Nature & Environment
World's Oldest Wine Cellar Unearthed in Israel
Benita Matilda
First Posted: Aug 28, 2014 06:01 AM EDT
Archeologists have unearthed what may be the world's oldest wine cellar from a room in the Bronze Age Canaanite palace at Tel Kabri.
Researchers from the Brandeis University conducted an excavation in 2012 at a Middle Bronze Age Canaanite palace in modern-day Israel. The excavation revealed 40 large wine jars in an enclosed room located to the west of the central courtyard.
It was assumed that production and distribution of wine played a key role in the lives of those residing in the Mediterranean and Near East during the Middle Bronze Age (1900-1600 BC). But, there was not much archaeological evidence about Bronze Age wine that supported the art and documentation regarding the importance of wine during that period.
Using mass spectrometry, the researchers conducted an organic residue analysis of the 40 large storage vessels. They found that the vessels were uniform jars that had biomarkers of wine and herbal additives that were added into the drink. They also traced slight differences in the ingredients within the jars that included honey, mint, cinnamon, juniper, resin, cedar oil, terebinth, storax resin, cyperus and myrtle.
The presence of these additives clearly indicates that humans, even during the Bronze Age, had a sophisticated understanding of plants and skills that were needed to produce complex beverages.
Researcher Andrew Koh added, "Based on the nature of the room, it was anticipated from the beginning that residue samples extracted and studied under virtually identical circumstances with minimal variability would have the potential to reveal new and significant insights from both a scientific and archaeological perspective. We believe this study will not only change our understanding of ancient viticulture and palatial social practices, but also the manner in which we approach organic residue analysis (ORA) as an integrated, qualitative, and interdisciplinary exercise that is as field dependent as it is laboratory intensive."
The researchers conclude that this latest finding adds to the knowledge of ancient viticulture and the Canaanite palatial economy.
The finding was documented in the journal PLOS ONE.
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First Posted: Aug 28, 2014 06:01 AM EDT
Archeologists have unearthed what may be the world's oldest wine cellar from a room in the Bronze Age Canaanite palace at Tel Kabri.
Researchers from the Brandeis University conducted an excavation in 2012 at a Middle Bronze Age Canaanite palace in modern-day Israel. The excavation revealed 40 large wine jars in an enclosed room located to the west of the central courtyard.
It was assumed that production and distribution of wine played a key role in the lives of those residing in the Mediterranean and Near East during the Middle Bronze Age (1900-1600 BC). But, there was not much archaeological evidence about Bronze Age wine that supported the art and documentation regarding the importance of wine during that period.
Using mass spectrometry, the researchers conducted an organic residue analysis of the 40 large storage vessels. They found that the vessels were uniform jars that had biomarkers of wine and herbal additives that were added into the drink. They also traced slight differences in the ingredients within the jars that included honey, mint, cinnamon, juniper, resin, cedar oil, terebinth, storax resin, cyperus and myrtle.
The presence of these additives clearly indicates that humans, even during the Bronze Age, had a sophisticated understanding of plants and skills that were needed to produce complex beverages.
Researcher Andrew Koh added, "Based on the nature of the room, it was anticipated from the beginning that residue samples extracted and studied under virtually identical circumstances with minimal variability would have the potential to reveal new and significant insights from both a scientific and archaeological perspective. We believe this study will not only change our understanding of ancient viticulture and palatial social practices, but also the manner in which we approach organic residue analysis (ORA) as an integrated, qualitative, and interdisciplinary exercise that is as field dependent as it is laboratory intensive."
The researchers conclude that this latest finding adds to the knowledge of ancient viticulture and the Canaanite palatial economy.
The finding was documented in the journal PLOS ONE.
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone