The world's oldest wine cellar

The discovery of an ancient wine cellar in Israel shows that people have been producing, distributing and consuming wine for a long time in the Mediterranean and Near East, about 4,000 years ago.

Ancient wine cellar at Kabri Tel, Israel.(Photo: Science Daily)

In 2013, during an excavation at the Canaanite palace in Israel, scientists discovered 40 large jars of wine in a closed room on the west side of the central courtyard.

Results of organic residue analysis by mass spectrometry show that all of the above containers contain chemical compounds of wine. The team also discovered subtle differences in ingredients and additives in similarly shaped wine jars like honey, resin, cedar oil, juniper and may include silver. ha, sugarcane and cinnamon.

The wine production, distribution and consumption process plays an important role in the lives of people living in the Mediterranean and Near East regions during the Bronze Age (from 1900 to in 1600 BC. However, so far, there is very little archaeological evidence of wine during this period.

According to the team, the discovery of additives shows that, for a long time, people have had a delicate understanding of plants and the skills needed to produce a complex, delicious, preserved beverage. OK. This finding may also help to better understand the ancient viticulture and the prosperous Canaanite economy.