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Is beer one of the basic
building blocks of modern civilization?
Archeologists know that early
agriculture was a critical step in founding tribes and villages,
which led directly to the birth of civilization as we know it.
Providing the most basic of all human needs, a reliable source of
food, freed ancient humans from spending all of their time hunting
or foraging and allowed them to spend time building, writing and
interacting with other people. But did ancient interest in
agriculture arise from the desire to grow grains for beer?
The
earliest direct evidence of beer consumption comes from a
Mesopotamian
 stamp seal found at Tepe Gawra (northeastern Iraq) dated 4000 B.C. It depicts two
figures drinking beer using traditional straws and container. Straws
would have been used to consume unfiltered beers as they allowed the
drinker to avoid many of the solid particles floating in the beer.
Filtered beers could be consumed in cups or beakers.
The Tepe Gawra seal is the earliest of a large number of ancient
artifacts that depict, praise or even regulate the production and
consumption of beer. The Code of Hammurabi (Babylon,
2500 B.C.) provides for the regulation of beer production and
penalties for those beer houses that overcharge for their product
(where is Hammurabi when we need him?!?). A plaque in the Royal
Cemetary of Ur (right) depicts a gazelle offering beer to a scorpion
man in strawless flaks, indicating a filtered beer.
Questions, complaints or compliments? Email me at:
beergeek@worldclassbeverages.com |
