An international group of researchers has discovered some of the earliest signs of alcohol production in the Patos Lagoon area of Brazil. Advanced analyses of pottery pieces revealed remnants of drinks made from plants, likely involving tubers, sweetcorn, and palm.
A recent study suggests that people in pre-colonial Brazil may have congregated during summer to enjoy migratory fish and partake in alcoholic beverages.
This international team, which includes scientists from the University of York in the UK, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona in Spain, and Universidade Federal de Pelotas in Brazil, studied pottery fragments that are believed to date between 2300 and 1200 years ago, found near the Patos Lagoon.
The lagoon’s banks feature settled earthen mounds known as “Cerritos,” created by the pre-colonial ancestors of the Pampean Indigenous groups, including the Charrua and Minuano.
The researchers have tentatively identified what could be some of the earliest evidence of alcohol production in this region. Their advanced analysis of pottery has indicated the presence of drinks made from plant materials, likely tubers, sweetcorn, and palm. Other pottery fragments showed signs of fish processing as well.
This finding supports the idea that pre-colonial peoples may have gathered around these mounds—significant for burials, territorial claims, and monuments—to celebrate and feast on fish that were especially plentiful during certain seasons. An earlier investigation using isotopic analysis on ancient human remains found in this area suggested that the local inhabitants had diverse diets, which implies that people might have traveled to the lagoon from surrounding areas.
Dr. Marjolein Admiraal, the study’s lead author who conducted this research at the Bioarchaeology laboratory (BioArCh) at the University of York, proposes that these seasonal gatherings at the mounds were culturally significant events that brought together dispersed communities to celebrate the arrival of migratory fish, such as the Whitemouth croaker, which likely necessitated collective processing efforts.
“There are numerous examples globally of such practices connected to the seasonal influx of migratory species. These events are excellent opportunities for social gatherings like funerals and weddings, carrying great cultural importance,” she states.
“Our research—supported by a mix of biomolecular and isotopic methods for organic residue analysis—provides strong evidence for the existence of fermented beverages in these ancient societies and highlights pottery’s essential role in feasting and social interactions,” she adds.
Professor Oliver Craig from BioArCh at the University of York comments, “Through meticulous chemical analyses, we determined not only the products present in the Cerritos pottery but also the methods used by people to prepare these items, including heating, storage, and possibly fermentation. This brings us closer to understanding the culinary practices within past societies.”
This finding brings new insights into the lifestyles of these pre-colonial groups and emphasizes the various purposes served by the Cerritos in the social and economic lives of their builders, according to the researchers.
Rafael Milheira, a co-author of the study from the Universidade Federal de Pelotas in Brazil, remarks, “The Cerritos function as both ritualistic and domestic spaces, and their elevated structures may have been designed with the local environment in mind; this elevation likely protected them from erosion during seasonal flooding.”
“Historically, large gatherings and feasts have been significant cultural events across the globe (and continue to be today). We propose that prehistoric people in this area likely invested in pottery-making to prepare for these gatherings, which attracted people to the Patos Lagoon to enjoy seasonal aquatic resources,” he adds.
André Colonese from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, one of the study’s co-authors and Principal Investigator of the ERC project TRADITION, emphasizes, “This research underscores the value of molecular archaeology in extracting information from commonplace artifacts like pottery shards that traditional archaeological techniques may overlook. Importantly, the study advocates for preserving the Cerritos as a unique Pampean cultural heritage, which is crucial for understanding how to live sustainably in a changing environment based on lessons from ancient societies.”
As the research progresses, these findings about the Cerritos and their cultural importance provide valuable insights into the early customs and social practices of the Pampean Indigenous groups, enhancing our comprehension of prehistoric life in southern Brazil.
