This paper explores the evidence for beer production, consumption, and ritual use at Kirikongo (100–1650 CE), a well-preserved archaeological site located in Mouhoun Province, western Burkina Faso. The site is comprised of thirteen anthropogenic mounds (tells) that were formed through sequential ritual processes that created ancestor shrines through either construction of dedicated mortuary monuments or transformation of domestic spaces and buildings. Tombs and architectural emplacements were accompanied by discrete accumulations of fauna, botanical remains, and material culture, the latter of which likely represents personal or familial belongings. Within these ceramic assemblages, there are significant numbers of small highly decorated consumption vessels, tri-pod ritual vessels likely connected to use of liquids, and large vessels consistent with beer production. Based upon contextual analysis of ceramics, cultural practices related to ancestors, and evidence from a destroyed ritual complex with intact material culture and ritualized use of sorghum, this paper argues that beer was likely used at Kirikongo both in the social life of the community and in rituals related to ancestors. The nature of sorghum beer production may have influenced the overall absence of sorghum in macrobotanical samples.

本文探讨了 Kirikongo（公元 100-1650 年）啤酒生产、消费和仪式使用的证据，这是一个位于布基纳法索西部穆洪省的保存完好的考古遗址。该遗址由 13 个人为土丘（告诉）组成，这些土丘是通过连续的仪式过程形成的，这些仪式过程通过建造专门的太平间纪念碑或改造家庭空间和建筑物来创建祖先神殿。坟墓和建筑阵地伴随着动物群、植物遗骸和物质文化的离散积累，后者可能代表个人或家庭财产。在这些陶瓷组合中，有大量装饰精美的小型消费器皿，可能与液体使用有关的三脚仪式器皿，和与啤酒生产一致的大型容器。基于对陶瓷的背景分析、与祖先相关的文化习俗以及来自具有完整物质文化和高粱仪式化使用的被毁仪式复合体的证据，本文认为啤酒很可能在 Kirikongo 社区的社会生活和与祖先有关的仪式。高粱啤酒生产的性质可能影响了大型植物样品中高粱的整体缺失。