sciencetech-blog

comments

Beer is one of the world's most ancient brews and has played an essential role in society - both for its nutritional and ritual importance - for millennia.

Now, 5,000-year-old fragments of pottery used by ancient Egyptians to make beer, have been discovered on a building site in Tel Aviv, Israel.

The pottery shards come from large ceramic basins, which were used to prepare fruity beer that was left to ferment under the sun.

'Among the hundreds of pottery shards (pictured) that characterise the local culture, a number of fragments of large ceramic basins were discovered that were made in an Egyptian tradition and were used to prepare beer,' Dr Barkan said

Diego Barkan, of the Israeli Antiquities Authority, said that 17 pits were found that had been used to store produce in the Early Bronze Age, from 3,500 to 3,000 BC.

'Among the hundreds of pottery shards that characterise the local culture, a number of fragments of large ceramic basins were discovered that were made in an Egyptian tradition and were used to prepare beer,' he said in a statement.

The vessels were made with 'straw temper' and other organic material to strengthen them – a method which was not in local potteries.

The excavation is the first to offer evidence of an 'Egyptian occupation' in the centre of Tel Aviv 5,000 years ago.

As well as the basins, a bronze dagger and 6,000-year-old flint tools were uncovered.

Dr Barken said: 'This is also the northernmost evidence we have of an Egyptian presence in the early Bronze Age.

'Until now we were only aware of an Egyptian presence in the northern Negev and southern coastal plain, whereby the northernmost point of Egyptian occupation occurred in Azor.

Fragments of pottery that are around 5,000 years old and were used by ancient Egyptians to make beer, have been discovered on a building site in Tel Aviv. Here, Diego Barkan holds the basin parts

Employees of the Israel Antiquities Authority(pictured) work at the site in Tel Aviv where fragments of pottery used by ancient Egyptians have been discovered. A total of 17 pits have revealed finds

As well as the basins, which were pulled from pits in the centre of Tel Aviv (pictured left) a bronze dagger and 6,000-year-old flint tools were uncovered. A flint blade is pictured right

'Now we know that they also appreciated what the Tel Aviv region had to offer and that they too knew how to enjoy a glass of beer, just as Tel Avivians do today'.

According to the antiquities authority, 'beer was the Egyptian national drink and was a staple along with bread.' 

It said beer was consumed by the entire population of Egypt, regardless of age, gender or status.

'It was made from a mixture of barley and water that was partially baked and then left to ferment in the sun.

'Various fruit concentrates were added to this mixture in order to flavour the beer.'

The mixture was filtered in special vessels before serving.

Previous excavations carried out in Egypt's Delta region uncovered breweries that indicate beer was already being produced in the mid-fourth millennium BC, the Israeli authority said. 

The fragments were discovered in pits on Ha-Masger Street in central Tel Aviv (marked on the map). Excavations are taking place before the construction of an office building

The vessels (pictured) were made with 'straw temper' and other organic material to strengthen them – a method which was not in local potteries. This one dates to the Early Bronze Age I (3,500 BC)

Dr Barken said: 'This is also the northernmost evidence we have of an Egyptian presence in the early Bronze Age. Here, a worker for the Israel Antiquities Authority cleans findings at the site