Question 1

Did beer come before bread in human history?

Accepted Answer

Some of the oldest evidence of fermented grain, from Raqefet Cave in Israel, dates to about 13,000 years ago, predating the earliest cereal farming. This has led archaeologists to argue that humans may have cultivated grain for beer before relying on it for bread.

Question 2

What is the oldest evidence of beer?

Accepted Answer

The oldest known record of intentionally produced alcohol comes from Raqefet Cave in Israel, where a 2018 study led by Li Liu found residues of malted, fermented grain in stone mortars dating to roughly 13,000 years ago, older than agriculture itself.

Question 3

Why did ancient people drink beer instead of water?

Accepted Answer

Beer was often safer than untreated water in crowded settlements. Brewing involved heating that killed pathogens, and the alcohol and acidity resisted harmful microbes. Beer also supplied calories and B vitamins, making it a nourishing staple rather than a mere indulgence.

beer

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The Cup Before the Loaf