> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://thechocolatelife.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Why Agriculture? Was it Fermentation? Beer?! | #PSC 173 - URL: https://thechocolatelife.com/why-agriculture-fermentation-beer-psc-173/ - Published: 2026-01-04T19:41:31.000Z - Updated: 2026-03-14T17:41:15.000Z - Description: Episode 173 of PodSaveChocolate takes a look at recent research into what might have motivated hunter-gatherer societies to become agrarian. Could it have been beer? And what does that mean for the use and domestication of cacao? - Author: Clay Gordon - Tags: PodSaveChocolate, Live Stream šŸ—“ļø Episode 173 streamed on Tuesday, Jan 6th, 2026\. Click a link below to view the archived episode. This ****YOUTUBE** link is shareable. 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[Watch this episode on Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/share/1HDSbZJaST) --- ## **Overview - Episode 173** Episode 173 of PodSaveChocolate takes a look at new research expanding our understanding off the age-old argument: What motivated the development of agriculture ... ***why*** did hunter-gatherer societies become agrarian? **And *when***? There is increasing evidence that alcohol ā€“ and specifically ā€œbeerā€ ā€“ played a large role in this societal evolutionary process, with archaeological evidence indicating that brewing preceded agriculturalization. > **And how does the use and domestication of cocoa fit into this new paradigm?** [It Wasnā€™t food! Human Farming Began For a Super Bizarre Reason: BEER!Support this channel on Patreon to help me make this a full time job: https://www.patreon.com/whatdamath (Unreleased videos, extra footage, DMs, no ads)Alterā€¦![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/favicon_144x144-55.png)YouTube![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/maxresdefault-45.jpg)](https://youtu.be/OLqgtyFyJ1o?ref=thechocolatelife.com) The video that prompted this episode. ### **Cited Research** [History of agriculture - Wikipedia![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/wikipedia-10.png)Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.Contributors to Wikimedia projects![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/1200px-Maler_der_Grabkammer_des_Sennudem_001.jpg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History%5Fof%5Fagriculture?ref=thechocolatelife.com) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/01/Vavilov-centers_updated.jpg) [Centres of origin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center%5Fof%5Forigin?ref=thechocolatelife.com "Center of origin") identified by Nikolai Vavilov in the 1930s. Area 3 (grey) is no longer recognised as a centre of origin, and Papua New Guinea (red, 'P') was identified more recently. [Fermented beverage and food storage in 13,000 y-old stone mortars at Raqefet Cave, Israel: Investigating Natufian ritual feastingFermented and alcoholic beverages played a pivotal role in feastings and social events in past agricultural and urban societies across the globe, but ā€¦![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)ScienceDirectalcoholic beverages![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/1-s2.0-S2352409X18X00054-cov150h.gif)](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352409X18303468?via%3Dihub&ref=thechocolatelife.com) Not open access (online) [arranz-otaegui-et-al-2018-archaeobotanical-evidence-reveals-the-origins-of-bread-14-400-years-ago-in-northeastern-jordanArchaeobotanical evidence reveals the origins of bread14,400 years ago in northeastern Jordanarranz-otaegui-et-al-2018-archaeobotanical-evidence-reveals-the-origins-of-bread-14-400-years-ago-in-northeastern-jordan.pdf1 MBdownload-circle](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/files/2026/01/arranz-otaegui-et-al-2018-archaeobotanical-evidence-reveals-the-origins-of-bread-14-400-years-ago-in-northeastern-jordan.pdf "Download") [liu-et-al-2024-identification-of-10-000-year-old-rice-beer-at-shangshan-in-the-lower-yangzi-river-valley-of-chinaIdentification of 10,000-year- old rice beer at Shangshan in theLower Yangzi River valley of Chinaliu-et-al-2024-identification-of-10-000-year-old-rice-beer-at-shangshan-in-the-lower-yangzi-river-valley-of-china.pdf6 MBdownload-circle](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/files/2026/01/liu-et-al-2024-identification-of-10-000-year-old-rice-beer-at-shangshan-in-the-lower-yangzi-river-valley-of-china.pdf "Download") ### Other Research and Sources [02 - RevsitedHistoryCacaoDomestictionPreColumbianTimesRevisited history of cacao domestication in preā€‘Columbian times revealed by archaeogenomic approach02 - RevsitedHistoryCacaoDomestictionPreColumbianTimes.pdf2 MBdownload-circle](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/files/2026/01/02---RevsitedHistoryCacaoDomestictionPreColumbianTimes.pdf "Download") [05 - InsightWildOriginMigrationDomesticationInsight intotheWildOrigin,Migrationand DomesticationHistoryoftheFineFlavourNacional TheobromacacaoL.05 - InsightWildOriginMigrationDomestication.pdf464 KBdownload-circle](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/files/2026/01/05---InsightWildOriginMigrationDomestication.pdf "Download") ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/01/1491_cover-Medium.jpeg) #### 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus Author: Charles C Mann **Contrary to what so many Americans learn in school, the pre-Columbian Indians were not sparsely settled in a pristine wilderness ...* This book (and its companion ****1493**) should be considered required reading for anyone interested in the history of the use and domestication of cocoa in the Americas. [Purchase your copy of 1491 (Amazon Affiliate Link)](https://amzn.to/4qxLBdZ?ref=thechocolatelife.com) > Pre-Columbian societies in the Amazon intensively managed forests, soils, and species; hearts of palm-producing palms were among the plants shaped by human selection. Modern intervention continues an ancient tradition of agroforestry and domestication rather than disrupting a ā€œpristineā€ ecosystem. [Purchase 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created](https://amzn.to/44Y0bmN?ref=thechocolatelife.com) --- ### **Comments? Questions?** If you have questions or want to comment, you can do so during the episode or, if you are a ChocolateLife member, add them in the Comments below at ***any*** time. --- ### **Episode Hashtags and Socials** #ferment #fermented #fermentation #beer #alcohol #cocoa #cacao #cacau #chocolate #chocolat #specialtychocolate #craftchocolate #beantobar #PodSaveChoc #LaVidaCocoa #TheChocolateLife --- ### **Future Episodes** šŸ—“ļø ****Tue, January 6th** TBD --- ### **#PodSaveChocolate and #TheChocolateLifeLIVE Archives** **To read an archived post** and find the links to watch archived episodes, click on one of the bookmark cards below. [Pod Save Chocolate Calendar and ArchiveNews, views, and conversations on topics in cocoa and chocolate streamed live to YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook. #PodSaveChocolate!![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2020/12/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2023/11/TagImageBanner-PodSaveChocTagFinal_1920x1080-5.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/pod-save-chocolate-calendar-and-archive/) [#TheChocolateLifeLIVE ArchiveNews, views, and conversations on topics in cocoa and chocolate streamed live to YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2020/12/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2023/03/solen-feyissa-WG7v_wYZW4Q-unsplash-CalendarFeatured1920x1080.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/thechocolatelife-live-calendar/) ā‰ļø After a year-long+ experiment, the audio-only versions of PodSaveChocolate episodes have been taken down after an end-of-year review. There were not enough listens to continue uploading episodes and paying for hosting. --- ## Not a Member? Live The Chocolate Life ā€“ Live La Vida Cocoa! Sign up for Free to comment and receive members-only content. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Premium subscriptions available. ---