page_title: Beer in Greece
section_title: Remains of Prehistoric Sites
hierarchical_section_title: Beer in Greece / History / B.C / Remains of Prehistoric Sites
context_page_description: Although it was believed that during the time of Ancient Greece beer was not consumed, recent archaeological excavations exposed artifacts and materials used for the production of beer. These findings date back to the bronze age of history.
  During modern times the first official brewery of Greece was founded in 1864. Today, Greek produced beer has slowly but surely become a part of the local culture and has expanded beyond its borders as demand has increased in numerous countries around the world. Although wine still has the highest consumption rates within Greece beer has increased market share and has become an important industry for the Greek economy providing more than 60,000 jobs in 2005.
context_section_description: Archaeologists discovered the remains of two prehistoric buildings, providing materials to which can be used for the development and consumption of beer. A site was discovered at Archondiko (in northern Greece) and another at Agrissa (south of Archondiko on the eastern side of Greece). Remains suggest that these sites burnt down in a fire, allowing artifacts found inside to be preserved for a rather long period of time. Within the Archondiko site several cereals were discovered that date back to the “Early Bronze Age, phase IV, dated to 2135–2020 BC”, and are key determinants in the brewing of beer. Soultana Maria Valamoti published the findings in a 2018 article, including: “Triticum monococcum (einkorn), T. dicoccum (emmer), T. spelta (spelt wheat), T. aestivum/durum (free-threshing wheat) and Hordeum sp. (barley) which were found in dense, sometimes pure, concentrations indicating deliberate storage.”
  Additionally to these cereals a two-chambered structure was discovered at this site. This structure is said to support temperatures of around 100 degrees Celsius, which is essential in the beer making process. Accompanying this structure there was a discovery of 30 special cups which archaeologists believe may have been used for the consumption of the beer.
  Similarly to the Archondiko site the site within Agrissa was well preserved and provides instruments for beer production In Greece. The evacuation of this site was conducted in 1955, 1956 and 1958 by a German archaeologist team. Similar cereal grains where discovered as Valamoti mentions within her article, "the archaeobotanical remains from Argissa discussed here consist of at least 3,588 sprouted cereal grains that were identified to einkorn (2,319); a further 157 sprouted grains were identified as T. dicoccum (emmer) and 81 as Hordeum (barley)”. 
  
  These cereal grains are said to date back 1700–1500 BC, whilst other remains of the house are said to date back 2100–1700 BC. This is of similar time period to that of the site in Archondiko. Within the Argissa site 45 specially sculpted cups where discovered, which is another similarity between the two sites.
caption: Fix beer logo, derived from the Fix (Fuchs) family