Beer is one of the world 's most ancient brews and has played an essential role in society - both for its nutritional and ritual importance - for millennia . Now , 5,000-year-old fragments of pottery used by ancient Egyptians to make beer , have been discovered on a building site in Tel Aviv , Israel . The pottery shards come from large ceramic basins , which were used to prepare fruity beer that was left to ferment under the sun . Scroll down for video . ‘ Among the hundreds of pottery shards ( pictured ) that characterise the local culture , a number of fragments of large ceramic basins were discovered that were made in an Egyptian tradition and were used to prepare beer , ’ Dr Barkan said . Diego Barkan , of the Israeli Antiquities Authority , said that 17 pits were found that had been used to store produce in the Early Bronze Age , from 3,500 to 3,000 BC . Beer was the favourite drink of humans and gods in ancient Egypt . It was also drank by rich and poor , adults and children . This was because it was cleaner than water , which came from a river or canal and was often polluted . Beer was considered as staple , along with bread , Reshafim.org reported . Workers were paid with bread , oil , beer and vegetables by their employers . The standard ration was two jars containing three-and-a-half pints ( two litres ) of beer . Just like today , the Egyptians liked their beer cooled and kept jars in water . ‘ Among the hundreds of pottery shards that characterise the local culture , a number of fragments of large ceramic basins were discovered that were made in an Egyptian tradition and were used to prepare beer , ’ he said in a statement . The vessels were made with ‘ straw temper ’ and other organic material to strengthen them – a method which was not in local potteries . The excavation is the first to offer evidence of an ‘ Egyptian occupation ’ in the centre of Tel Aviv 5,000 years ago . As well as the basins , a bronze dagger and 6,000-year-old flint tools were uncovered . Dr Barken said : ‘ This is also the northernmost evidence we have of an Egyptian presence in the early Bronze Age . ‘ Until now we were only aware of an Egyptian presence in the northern Negev and southern coastal plain , whereby the northernmost point of Egyptian occupation occurred in Azor . Fragments of pottery that are around 5,000 years old and were used by ancient Egyptians to make beer , have been discovered on a building site in Tel Aviv . Here , Diego Barkan holds the basin parts . Employees of the Israel Antiquities Authority ( pictured ) work at the site in Tel Aviv where fragments of pottery used by ancient Egyptians have been discovered . A total of 17 pits have revealed finds . As well as the basins , which were pulled from pits in the centre of Tel Aviv ( pictured left ) a bronze dagger and 6,000-year-old flint tools were uncovered . A flint blade is pictured right . Last year , the tomb of a leading ancient Egyptian beer brewer was discovered . The tomb of Khonso Em Heb , who lived 3,200 years ago , was found by a Japanese team and has been been described as 'one of the most important discoveries ' made at the Thebes necropolic site in the city of Luxor . Egypt 's antiquities minister Mohamed Ibrahim described Khonso Em Heb as the chief ‘ maker of beer for gods of the dead ' . He was thought to be the head of a warehouse and judging by the decorations in his tomb was an important and wealthy man . The walls of the tomb contain paintings showing everyday life and rituals . ‘ Now we know that they also appreciated what the Tel Aviv region had to offer and that they too knew how to enjoy a glass of beer , just as Tel Avivians do today ’ . According to the antiquities authority , ‘ beer was the Egyptian national drink and was a staple along with bread. ’ It said beer was consumed by the entire population of Egypt , regardless of age , gender or status . ‘ It was made from a mixture of barley and water that was partially baked and then left to ferment in the sun . ‘ Various fruit concentrates were added to this mixture in order to flavour the beer. ’ The mixture was filtered in special vessels before serving . Previous excavations carried out in Egypt 's Delta region uncovered breweries that indicate beer was already being produced in the mid-fourth millennium BC , the Israeli authority said . The fragments were discovered in pits on Ha-Masger Street in central Tel Aviv ( marked on the map ) . Excavations are taking place before the construction of an office building . The vessels ( pictured ) were made with ‘ straw temper ’ and other organic material to strengthen them – a method which was not in local potteries . This one dates to the Early Bronze Age I ( 3,500 BC ) Dr Barken said : ‘ This is also the northernmost evidence we have of an Egyptian presence in the early Bronze Age . Here , a worker for the Israel Antiquities Authority cleans findings at the site .
Fragments from ceramic basins were pulled from 17 pits in Tel Aviv , Israel . Basins were used 5,000 years ago to make fruity beer , which was a staple . Beer was made from part baked barley and water , with added fruits . Finds are first to prove an Egyptian occupation in Tel Aviv 5,000 years ago .