Penn Museum

The story the bowls tell

In an ambitious new project, historian Simcha Gross and Harvard’s Rivka Elitzur-Leiman are studying hundreds of ancient incantation bowls housed at the Penn Museum. They hope to better understand the objects and eventually, build a database of all these bowls worldwide.

Michele W. Berger



In the News


Associated Press

Ancient restaurant highlights Iraq’s archaeology renaissance

An international archaeological mission led by a Penn team has uncovered the remnants of what is believed to be a 5,000-year-old restaurant or tavern in the ancient city of Lagash in southern Iraq.

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Esquire

Raise a toast in honor of the world’s oldest known beerhall!

A team of researchers from Penn and the University of Pisa, led by Holly Pittman of the School of Arts & Sciences and the Penn Museum, have excavated a site in Iraq that could contain the oldest tavern ever discovered.

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The Washington Post

World’s oldest bar? Archaeologists find a nearly 5,000-year-old tavern

A team of researchers from Penn and the University of Pisa, led by Holly Pittman of the School of Arts & Sciences and the Penn Museum, have excavated a site in Iraq that could contain the oldest tavern ever discovered.

FULL STORY →



Artnet News

Archaeologists digging in Iraq have located the remains of a 5,000-year-old tavern—as well as a ‘beer recipe’

Holly Pittman of the School of Arts & Sciences and the Penn Museum and colleagues have uncovered the remains of a public eating space dated to 2700 B.C.E. in Lagash, an ancient city site in southern Iraq.

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Times of India

Ancient refrigerator, beer recipe, and tavern among the latest discoveries at Lagash, Iraq

A team of archaeologists from Penn and the University of Pisa have discovered the remains of a 5,000-year-old tavern and an ancient beer recipe in the ruins of ancient Lagash in Iraq.

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France 24

Iraq dig uncovers 5,000-year-old pub restaurant

A joint U.S.-Italian archaeological team led by Holly Pittman of the School of Arts & Sciences and the Penn Museum has uncovered the remains of a nearly 5,000-year-old tavern in southern Iraq.

FULL STORY →