Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (16.2004(2005))

TELL EL-LARKHA

EGYPT

All were similarly built and served the
same purpose. Each building consisted of
several subcircular features, surrounded by
fire-dog type bricks. Some of these bricks
were inserted diagonally into the ground
to support thick-walled vats with a wide
rim and narrow base. One of these vessels
has even been found in situ. The distinct
majority of the bricks were fired, though
possibly not intentionally, as the same
bricks tend to appear in sun-dried form as
well. There is no doubt that fires were lit
to heat the contents of the vats. Nine
circular stands, all made of silt and each
measuring about a meter in diameter, were
found outside the construction unearthed
in 2003. Upon being removed from the

fire the vats must have been placed on
them. The plant material recovered from
these features played an important role in
the interpretation. Macroscopic paleobotan-
ical analysis clearly demonstrated that the
plant remains came from two successive
phases in the process of beer-making. All
of these structures were thus deemed to be
breweries. Coarsely ground barley grains
were placed in vats of hot water (around
60°C) and heated to obtain a homogeneous
starter. The vessels were then removed
from the heat and placed on the aforemen-
tioned silt pot-stands, where they were left
for about a week for the fermentation
process to take place, resulting in the
production of a low-alcohol beer.


Fig. 1. Western Kom. Complex of breweries, view following excavations in 2004
(Photo R. Slabonski)

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