The Summary
The article under consideration presents a discovery made by a multinational team in Abydos, Egypt. The archeologists from the US combined their efforts with local specialists to uncover the world’s oldest brewery, which held cultural significance (“World’s Oldest Industrial-Scale Brewery”). The site was previously excavated by the UK in the 20th century, but the finding’s importance was underestimated (“World’s Oldest Industrial-Scale Brewery”). The current project began in 2018, and the results were reported in 2021 (“World’s Oldest Industrial-Scale Brewery”). The brewery was approximately dated to 3000 BCE, and its production scale is believed to be unrivaled (“World’s Oldest Industrial-Scale Brewery”). The building’s proximity to the royal necropolis implies that beer had a ritualistic significance, which is supported by the jars found in the accompanying enclosures (“World’s Oldest Industrial-Scale Brewery”). The discovery is important for understanding the First Dynasty’s traditions and highlighting ancient Egypt’s labor potential later seen in pyramid construction.
The Analysis
The article connects to the readings on anthropology in several ways. First of all, American archeologists from New York University (NYU) and Princeton University collaborated with Egyptian colleagues, exhibiting ethical behavior (Kottak 68). Second, the employed strategy was excavation, although its impact was probably minimized due to being the second attempt at a site where digging is common (Kottak 61). Third, the involved archeologists belong to the classical branch, as they are associated with the Institute of Fine Arts and study Egypt (Kottak 62). However, the finding was not of purely architectural value to them, as it also presented some social facts about ancient Egypt (Kottak 62). Fourth, while the article does not mention the dating method, it could be relative, as the provided year is approximate (Kottak 63). Fifth, the brewery serves as an example of an industry that became prominent once a state was established, and its construction would probably be impossible without the enslaved class (Kottak 222). Lastly, the discovery strengthens the authenticity of ancient Egypt’s built environment, which remains subject to conspiracies (Kottak 217). Overall, the article is consistent with many points learned from the course.
The Questions
- Why does the finding hold some importance now compared to 100 years ago when it was discovered by British archeologists and who benefits from the discovery?
- Considering that the article fails to mention any Egyptian specialist in the title, the body (referring to the colleagues generally), and the author line, what does it say about the US side upholding ethical principles?
Works Cited
Kottak, Conrad P. Anthropology: Appreciating Human Diversity. 18th ed., McGraw-Hill Education, 2017.
“World’s Oldest Industrial-Scale Brewery Identified at Abydos, Egypt, ca. 3000 BCE.” New York University, Web.