Agriculture was dependent on mans ability to sustain himself. The practice of agriculture required a perceived value in the grains cultivated since it required a settled lifestyle which was not typical of herders. The differentiation between hunters and gatherers was defined in the 10,000 BC primarily along 30 degrees latitude.
Farming and irrigation came much later in 5000 BC. By this time post glacial warming was in full swing, pottery making became an important way for gatherers to store cereals. Kilning was important not just for making clay pots but for metallurgy as well. All of these developments were parallel to the making of beer.
Like others I have toyed with the question which came first beer or bread. When I contemplate on the Ninkasi poem it is clear that the practice of making a loaf first answers the question but not in the way one might think. I propose that loaf making was done for the purpose of making beer and did not become a staple in itself until after the fact.
Farming and irrigation came much later in 5000 BC. By this time post glacial warming was in full swing, pottery making became an important way for gatherers to store cereals. Kilning was important not just for making clay pots but for metallurgy as well. All of these developments were parallel to the making of beer.
Like others I have toyed with the question which came first beer or bread. When I contemplate on the Ninkasi poem it is clear that the practice of making a loaf first answers the question but not in the way one might think. I propose that loaf making was done for the purpose of making beer and did not become a staple in itself until after the fact.
No comments:
Post a Comment