Epilogue: Reviving an ancient art

Abstract

Abstract The Epilogue brings the discussion of Mesopotamian beer into the present world with a look at the craft of re-creating ancient beverages. It begins with a beer tasting event at Great Lakes Brewing Co. in Cleveland, the result of a collaboration with scholars from the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures at the University of Chicago. The chapter then steps back to consider the re-creation of ancient beverages as both experimental archaeology and experiential archaeology. It then recounts three different efforts to recreate the beers of ancient Mesopotamia. Particular attention is devoted to third of these––the same one that began the chapter––during which the author and a team of collaborators sought to re-create Mesopotamian beer using authentic ingredients, equipment, and brewing techniques. The book ends by describing the experimental beers, Gilgamash and Enkibru––named after Gilgamesh and Enkidu––and offering a toast to Ninkasi, goddess of beer.