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Ancient Sumerian Tablet Reveals 4,000-Year-Old Beer Brewing Recipe

A nearly 4,000-year-old clay tablet from Sumer describes the brewing of beer, suggesting fermentation may have been humanity's first scientific endeavor.

Editorial StaffJuly 8, 20261 min read

The Hymn to Ninkasi, written around 1800 BCE, is one of the oldest known written recipes in the world. This ancient Sumerian tablet not only serves as a hymn to the goddess of beer but also provides a detailed method for brewing.

The tablet highlights the significance of fermentation, indicating that it may have been humanity's first foray into laboratory science, predating other culinary techniques like roasting or baking.

This remarkable artifact, approximately 3,800 years old, underscores the cultural importance of beer in ancient Sumerian society and its role in rituals and daily life.