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Ancient Beer Receipt Reveals 4,000-Year-Old Mesopotamian Brew Secrets
31 May
Summary
- A 4,000-year-old tablet details ancient Mesopotamian beer deliveries.
- The receipt differentiates between high-quality and ordinary beer types.
- The tablet was received by a provincial governor, impressed with his seal.
A 4,000-year-old cuneiform tablet, recently digitized, provides unique insights into Mesopotamian beer culture. Unearthed as part of a project with Denmark's National Museum, the artifact details ancient beer distributions. This ancient receipt from the Ur III period (around 2112-2004 B.C.) specifies quantities of both high-quality and ordinary beer.
Researchers noted that the delivery amounted to over 30 gallons over two successive days. The provincial governor received this specific recorded delivery, evidenced by his cylinder seal impressed on the clay tablet. This finding underscores beer's significance as an integral part of urbanized life in Mesopotamia.
Ancient Mesopotamian beer was likely nutritious and potentially contained ingredients like date syrup or emmer wheat. It was likely consumed with sediment and through straws. This rediscovered tablet contributes to our understanding of daily life and administrative practices in the cradle of civilization.
