Article: World's oldest beer receipt?(Tom L. Lee found the Ur tablet )

Tom Lee of East Grand Rapids, MI, recently sent us this photo of an ancient beer receipt he owns. The document was recorded in ancient Sumerian, during the 45th year of the reign of Shulgi, the King of Ur, in 2050 BC. It is a dated and signed receipt for the delivery of beer, by an ancient brewer named Alulu, who produced beer in the city of Ur. "No Ur political documents from this time are known to exist," Mr. Lee writes. "Only this written and signed receipt for beer. The ancients had their priorities straight!"

The document is signed with the impression of the personal seal of Ur-Amma, the scribe and clerk who wrote the document 4,000 years ago. According to ...

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