The world’s oldest paycheck was cashed in beer

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by digitalflood, Jun 28, 2016.

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  1. digitalflood

    digitalflood Pooh-Bah (1,600) Feb 4, 2011 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    New Scientist has a great article about a recent archaeology finding that shows the world's oldest known paystub was paid in beer:

    https://www.newscientist.com/article/2094658-the-worlds-oldest-paycheck-was-cashed-in-beer/

    You can also find the summary on Ars Technica:

    http://arstechnica.com/science/2016...shows-that-ancient-workers-were-paid-in-beer/

    In the ancient Mesopotamian city of Uruk, residents enjoyed many benefits of modern life. The city, located in modern-day Iraq, was home to massive ziggurats that would rival any of today's modern skyscrapers for sheer monumentality. People in Uruk exchanged goods for money, played board games, and sent each other letters on clay tablets using a writing system called cuneiform. They were also paid for their labor in beer. We know this because pay stubs were incredibly common documents at the time, and one such pay stub (pictured above) is now in the possession of the British Museum.
     
    #1 digitalflood, Jun 28, 2016
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  2. NotHereForGold

    NotHereForGold Initiate (0) Feb 3, 2015 Wisconsin

    Interesting but I don't think I'd pay 22 clams to read that stoy
     
    #2 NotHereForGold, Jun 28, 2016
  3. Squire

    Squire Grand Pooh-Bah (4,385) Jul 16, 2015 Mississippi
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Better than a motivational seminar.
     
    #3 Squire, Jun 28, 2016
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  4. RogelioRodriguez

    RogelioRodriguez Initiate (0) Nov 7, 2015 California

    Then organized religion came... and took away all the fun :slight_smile:
     
    #4 RogelioRodriguez, Jun 29, 2016
  5. monkeybeerbelly

    monkeybeerbelly Initiate (0) Dec 6, 2012 New York



    its been mentioned in this documentary, which i highly recommend watching
     
    #5 monkeybeerbelly, Jun 29, 2016
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  6. gopens44

    gopens44 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,560) Aug 9, 2010 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I truly appreciate archeology, which by the looks of this tablet, means "get really stoned and tell us what you think of this really old thing" because there's no chance at all I can make out a person eating, drinking, or even being a person based on those drawings
     
    #6 gopens44, Jun 29, 2016
  7. ssam

    ssam Pundit (997) Dec 2, 2008 California

    Yup, this is where I first heard it.
     
    #7 ssam, Jun 29, 2016
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  8. TriggerFingers

    TriggerFingers Initiate (0) Apr 29, 2012 California

    Gilgamesh was a gangsta! "Liquid gold" is better than fiat currency if you ask me!
     
    #8 TriggerFingers, Jun 29, 2016
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