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The elite members of early Egyptian society 鈥� before the emergence of the pharaohs 鈥� probably drank beer, which they transported around in six-litre jars.

at Dartmouth University in New Hampshire and her colleagues analysed fragments of pottery found at in southern Egypt. The fragments date back to between 3800 and 3600 BC, about 600 years before Egypt was united into one state under Narmer, the first pharaoh.

The fragments were found in an area that served as both an ancient brewery and a cemetery. The researchers believe that the brewery and cemetery were used exclusively by the richest in pre-Pharaonic society. The archaeologists who first excavated the fragments assumed that they came from jars used to carry beer, but the idea hadn鈥檛 been tested until now.

Wang and her colleagues used microfossil residue analysis to study the organic remains on the fragments. 鈥淲e analysed starch granules, phytoliths [silica from plants], yeast cells and beer stone crystals,鈥� says Wang. 鈥淭hey cannot be observed by [the naked] eye.鈥�

The researchers found beer residues in fragments from 10 six-litre jars, which they believe were used predominantly to carry the alcoholic drink. Their analysis suggests that the beer was made from wheat, barley and grass. Plant silica that they found in the residue also suggests that the beer mash was filtered to remove cereal husks.

鈥淭he beer was probably like a thick porridge,鈥� says Wang. 鈥淰ery different from the IPAs we drink today.鈥� She says it also probably had a low alcohol content.

The complexity of the beer recipe suggests that the alcohol was made for elites. 鈥淏ut we don鈥檛 really know for sure at this stage,鈥� says Wang. However, as similar jars were found in the nearby cemetery for upper-class people, the team speculates that the jars were used to hold beer from the brewery for use in elite rituals and ceremonies.

鈥淏eer was likely a staple food consumed by everyone and, at the same time, it was also ritually consumed on special occasions,鈥� says Wang.

The researchers also found fragments of smaller beakers at the cemetery, and they believe the contents of the beer jars were decanted into these for consumption.

鈥淭his study proves that beer was not some menial beverage reserved for the lower classes,鈥� says at the University of Colorado Boulder. 鈥淨uality and taste mattered to the ancient Egyptians and this finding complements the recent discoveries of the [dating to] 3000 BC, explaining how brewing had become industrialised by the beginning of dynastic Egypt.鈥�

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