Where the Beer Flowed Like Wine: Beer and Brewing in Bronze Age Mesopotamia

Tate Paulette, assistant professor of history at North Carolina State University, will speak on "Beer and Brewing in Bronze Age Mesopotamia.” His lecture is sponsored by the Archaeological Institute of America and Augustana.

His talk will be followed by a complimentary beer tasting (a non-alcoholic option will be available).

Description: "We may be living in the age of craft brewing, but the craft of brewing has much deeper roots. For thousands of years, people have been intentionally fermenting cereal grains to create their own unique versions of the intoxicating beverage that we now call beer.

"In ancient Mesopotamia, beer was produced on a massive scale and was consumed on a daily basis by people across the socio-economic spectrum. Beer was a gift from the gods, a marker of civilization, a dietary staple, a social lubricant, a ritual necessity, and a reason for celebration. It was consumed at feasts, festivals, and ritual ceremonies, but also at home, on the job, and in neighborhood taverns.

"It was produced by brewers working for the powerful palace and temple institutions and also by local tavern keepers and homebrewers. This lecture explores the archaeological, artistic, and written evidence for beer and brewing in Bronze Age (3000–1200 BC) Mesopotamia, as well as recent efforts to recreate Mesopotamian beer."

Dr. Paulette is currently co-directing archaeological investigations at the site of Makounta Voules in Cyprus, and he has been spearheading an effort to recreate Sumerian beer using authentic ingredients, equipment and brewing techniques.

His talk is supported by the Harry S.B. Johnson Endowment for Classics at Augustana, which was established by the family and friends of Dr. Johnson, a professor of classics at Augustana from 1942 to 1976.