Humans have been drinking beer for 11,500 years

Antiquity ^ | Dietrich, Oliver, et al

[Renfield]

(Abstract of article only):

The role of cult and feasting in the emergence of Neolithic communities. New evidence from Göbekli Tepe, south-eastern Turkey

¹Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Orient-Abteilung, Podbielskiallee 69–71, D-14195 Berlin, Germany (Email: odi@orient.dainst.de; jn@orient.dainst.de; kls@orient.dainst.de), ²Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Aas, Norway (Email: manfred.heun@umb.no), and ³Technische Universität München, Wissenschaftszentrum Weihenstephan, Weihenstephaner Steig 20, D-85354 Freising, Germany (Email: Martin.Zarnkow@wzw.tum.de)

*Author for correspondence

---

Göbekli Tepe is one of the most important archaeological discoveries of modern times, pushing back the origins of monumentality beyond the emergence of agriculture. We are pleased to present a summary of work in progress by the excavators of this remarkable site and their latest thoughts about its role and meaning. At the dawn of the Neolithic, hunter-gatherers congregating at Göbekli Tepe created social and ideological cohesion through the carving of decorated pillars, dancing, feasting—and, almost certainly, the drinking of beer made from fermented wild crops.

[Renfield]

Gobleki Tepe is dated to about 11,500 years ago.

[Renfield]

Ping.

And oops, sorry, that age figure should have been 11,000 years, not 11,500 years.

[Hieronymus]

Time for Toby Keith to come up with more verses.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6pMX719cgE

[Renfield]

The abstract doesn’t include this, but in the full article there is mention of a brewing trough that the archaeologists reckon could have held up to 400 gallons of beer. Maybe Gobekli Tepe was just a big party spot. (I found that bit about the beer trough quoted in another article referencing the scientific paper.)

[Lockbar]

Here is the proof:

[central_va]

So cave men had beer guts, who'd figure that?

"hold muh beer..."

[Red_Devil 232]

Gotta ping the homebrewers list to the article.

And a little YouTube video for those who who might be interested. How Beer Saved The World!

[Lazamataz]

Humans have been drinking beer for 11,500 years

Sounds like an alcoholic to me.

[Billthedrill]

A 400-gallon beer trough. Man, I gotta get one of those for the rumpus room. BTT.

[kjam22]

Man... I remember opening cans with an opener like that. I was a kid and they were coke cans... but I hadn’t thought about that in years. Big hole to drink out of.. and smaller one for air. Wow...

[Rock Hardplace]

Looks like I’ve got a lot of catching up to do :)

[Redcloak]

And oops, sorry, that age figure should have been 11,000 years, not 11,500 years

You drink that much beer and you're bound to lose track of time!

[Madame Dufarge]

When I was a kid, practically every used car you bought came with a churchkey in the glove compartment, for the convenience of the new owner.

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

Which means guys have been doing stupid and dangerous stunts for 11,499 years. :)

[reagan_fanatic]

I Like Beer

[No Truce With Kings]

“. . . that age figure should have been 11,000 years . . .”

11,000 years. Never gets old, does it?

[mikrofon]

Ich bin ein Biertrinker

[Le Chien Rouge]

...and women have been complaining about men drinking beer for just as long....

[FreedomPoster]

Ping

[niteowl77]

Man... I remember opening cans with an opener like that. I was a kid and they were coke cans... but I hadn’t thought about that in years. Big hole to drink out of.. and smaller one for air. Wow...

I remember being allowed to open a steel can with a church key all by myself (and doing it right) it as something of a rite of passage.

Mr. niteowl77