Centuries-old beer tavern unearthed

Builders excavating a site near Russia’s Kremlin have unearthed beer tavern and vodka bar buried nearly 300 years ago.

Broken plates, pottery and beer tankards dating back to the 16th century were also discovered.

The bar was discovered by construction workers who were digging a ‘canal’ for cable collectors three meters three meters (10 feet) under the modern-day Teatralnaya Square, right next to the Red Square and Kremlin, as reported by the Daily Mail.

Archaeologists believe that the bar was buried as developments built up around it, but had thrived for more than 50 years prior. Its location means that it is likely that the bar would have been popular with palace aides and courtiers, said Moscow’s chief archaeologist, Dr Leonid Kondrashov. He believes the tavern only fell out of use because it was too close to the city’s Neglinnaya River which eroded land near its banks.

Broken plates and beer tankards indicated that the bar had also been a restaurant. Copper coins dropped hundreds of years ago were also found, with the oldest dating back to Elizabeth of Russia, the country’s Empress from 1741 until her death in 1762.

All of the artefacts have been donated to the Moscow Museum.

The oldest coin found dated back to Elizabeth of Russia, the country’s Empress from 1741 until her death in 1762.