Archaeology has a charming way of reminding us that, while the world may change, human nature rarely does. The latest revelation unearthed from the cradle of civilisation proves exactly that. New Scientist recently reported the discovery of what is being called the world’s oldest known paycheck — a clay tablet from ancient Mesopotamia inscribed with cuneiform script. And what was this ancient wage spent on? Beer.

Yes, you read that right. Five thousand years ago, someone in the bustling city of Uruk (modern-day Iraq) wrapped up a day’s work and was compensated not with coins or credit, but with a hearty ration of beer.

A Civilization Brewed on Barley

Beer, one of humanity’s oldest prepared beverages, traces its frothy origins to around 9500 BCE, when early farmers began cultivating cereals. As settlements along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers evolved into the first cities, beer became a staple — both nutritional and cultural. In Mesopotamia and Egypt alike, it was considered safer than water, often consumed through reed straws from large communal jars.

Cuneiform & the Birth of Bureaucracy

The tablet in question is written in cuneiform, the world’s earliest known writing system, developed by the Sumerians around 3200 BCE. The word cuneiform comes from the Latin cuneus, meaning “wedge,” describing the stylus-pressed marks made on soft clay. Initially pictorial, these markings evolved into symbols representing sounds and ideas — laying the foundation for written communication, administration, and, fittingly, payroll records.

The Alulu Beer Receipt

Among the most delightful examples of this early accounting system is a small clay tablet dated to 2050 BCE, during the 45th year of King Shulgi’s reign over the city-state of Ur. This tablet — now famously dubbed the Alulu Beer Receipt — bears the inscription:

“Ur-Amma acknowledges receiving from his brewer, Alulu, 5 sila (about 4½ litres) of the ‘best’ beer.”

Signed by a scribe, stamped by time, and seasoned with the dust of millennia, it represents not just an economic transaction but a glimpse into the daily life of a society that understood both hard work and the joy of a good brew.

Of Bread, Beer, & Beginnings

The story of beer is inseparable from that of civilization itself. Some scholars even suggest that humankind’s early push toward cereal cultivation was motivated less by the need for bread and more by the desire to ferment grain into beer. Whether that’s fact or fable, one can’t deny the role of beer in driving social gatherings, rituals, and the first inklings of organized labor.

From the malted barley residues found in prehistoric Mesopotamian bowls to the hieroglyphic brewing guides of ancient Egypt, evidence of early beer-making abounds. The world’s first known alcoholic concoction — a mix of rice, honey, and fruit from 9000-year-old China — may predate barley beer, but it was in Mesopotamia where the craft became culture.

A Timeless Toast

So, what does this ancient “beer paycheck” tell us? Beyond its historical novelty, it’s a reminder that the rhythms of human life — work, reward, and relaxation — are as old as civilization itself. The Sumerian worker sipping beer after a long day might have felt the same quiet satisfaction we do when we raise a glass at sunset.

Five thousand years later, the spirit remains unchanged. Here’s to Alulu, Ur-Amma, and every weary worker who ever earned their pint — proof that some traditions truly stand the test of time.

Cheers — or as the Sumerians might have said, “Kaš-gal!”

From the breweries of ancient Uruk to the taprooms of today, beer has flowed through the story of humanity like a liquid thread of camaraderie and celebration. The discovery of this “beer paycheck” not only amuses but enlightens — reminding us that food and drink are more than sustenance; they are the vocabulary of our shared heritage.

So the next time you clink glasses, think of Alulu and Ur-Amma — our ancient colleagues who, perhaps unknowingly, gave us the first toast in human history.