Archaeologists Uncover Ancient Wine Press
Israeli archaeologists announced Monday they have discovered an octagon shaped 1,400-year-old wine press, which was exceptionally large and advanced for its time.
The press measures 21 feet by 54 feet and was discovered about 25 miles south of both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
"What we have here seems to be an industrial and crafts area of a settlement from the sixth- to seventh century, which was situated in the middle of an agricultural region," said excavation director Uzi Ad of the Israel Antiquities Authority to the Associated Press.
The whole area was part of the Byzantine Empire during this period, which was the eastern half of the old Roman Empire.
"The size of the wine press attests to the fact that the quantity of wine that was produced in it was exceptionally large and was not meant for local consumption," Ad said in a release.
He said the wine was most likely intended for export to Egypt or to Europe, which were major export markets then.
Ad also said that an identical wine press was previously uncovered about 12 miles away, north of Ashkelon.
The shape of the press’ collecting vats was impractical because sediment would collect in the corners. Ad said that they must have built it like this for aesthetic reasons, instead of the customary circular or square shape.
"This is a complex wine press that reflects a very high level of technology for this period, which was acquired and improved on from generation to generation," he said.
The whole press originally measured 49 by 54 feet, and included a central treading floor with mosaic pavement where the grapes would be trod on. According to Ad, the juice would flow from the treading floor to a distributing vat and from there would be collected in vats through holes located on either side.
Rectangular surfaces were also discovered around the treading floor. He said that the grapes were most likely placed there before being trod on, and the initial fermentation of the grapes would sometimes begin there.
The head of the Nahal Soreq Regional Council, Eli Eskozido, said the site would be conserved and opened to the public.Â
The excavation was carried out in an area that is expected to be farmland for settlers evacuated from the Gaza Strip in 2005.
(Photo: Israel Antiquities Authority)
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