Egypt: Archaeologists unearth ancient beer factory in Abydos

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Egypt: Archaeologists unearth ancient beer factory in Abydos

By SAMY MAGDY
February 13, 2021

CAIRO (AP) — American and Egyptian archaeologists have unearthed what could be the oldest known beer factory at one of the most prominent archaeological sites of ancient Egypt, a top antiquities official said on Wednesday.

Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the factory was found in Abydos, an ancient burial ground located in the desert west of the Nile River, over 450 kilometers (280 miles) south of Cairo.

He said the factory apparently dates back to the region of King Narmer, who is widely known for his unification of ancient Egypt at the beginning of the First Dynastic Period (3150 B.C.- 2613 B.C.).

Archaeologists found eight huge units — each is 20 meters (about 65 feet) long and 2.5 meters (about 8 feet) wide. Each unit includes some 40 pottery basins in two rows, which had been used to heat up a mixture of grains and water to produce beer, Waziri said.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/egypt-nile-river-cairo-92e3692d44ad452046163291abb03e9f


A handout picture released by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities on February 13, 2021 shows the remains of vats used for beer fermentation. (AFP)

[Hoyt]

1. I'd try a pint or two.