The “oldest brewery in the world” was recently discovered by American and Egyptian archaeologists at one of Egypt’s most prominent historical sites. In the ancient Egyptian city of Abidus, known for its many temples, including the Royal Necropolis, where ancient pharaohs were buried, archaeologists found about 40 potsherds used to heat a mixture of grain and water to make beer, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced. View photos from the amazing archeological finds:
Photos from the oldest brewery in the world (Photo: Reuters)
It is estimated that the brewery belonged to the time of King Naarmar, who ruled at the end of the 32nd century BC and was known for the unification of ancient Egypt at the beginning of the first dynastic period (3150 BC to 2613 BC). The city of Avidos is located in the desert west of the Nile, about 500 km south of Cairo, while the brewery is located in an area reserved exclusively for the first kings of Egypt.
Experts estimate that the factory was built specifically to provide beer for the royal ceremonies held at the burial site of the kings. Also, archaeologists have in the past found evidence for the use of beer in various sacrificial rites. Although British archaeologists first mentioned the existence of the brewery in the early 20th century, they have not yet been able to locate it. Only recently has a new archeological mission been able to uncover the lost brewery.
According to Dr. Matthew Adams, head of the US-Egyptian mission, the brewery produced about 22,400 liters of beer at a time. The latest finding joins dozens of other ancient discoveries that Egypt has announced in the past two years to help the country revive its tourism industry. In addition to that as we reported last month, Egypt has uncovered the oldest temple and coffin ever found at the burial site in Skara as well as another ancient necropolis south of Cairo.
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