In a groundbreaking find, archaeologists have uncovered hundreds of ancient jars containing remnants of 5,000-year-old wine in Egypt.
The discovery, made within the royal tomb of Um el Kab, revealed sealed wine vessels, seemingly untouched for millennia, and remarkably preserved grape seeds, announced the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism.
The archaeological site, located in the ancient city of Abydos, is home to several royal tombs from the early dynastic period, spanning approximately four centuries from the dawn of the 3rd millennium BC.
“This discovery of sealed and intact wine vessels in Abydos, along with the remarkably preserved grape seeds, has the potential to significantly enhance our understanding of the earliest production, consumption, and trade of wine in the ancient Mediterranean and North Africa,” shared the archaeological team, comprising experts from Egypt, Germany, and Austria.
Unearthings of wine vessels from this era in Egypt are scarce, particularly when involving sealed and uncontaminated containers. A thorough analysis of the vessels and their remnants could divulge pivotal insights into the viticulture practices of the time and the early cultivation and domestication of grapevines.
Further analysis of the residues found within the jars may also shed light on the chemical composition of the vintage wine, revealing its flavour profile and any additives that might have been used.
Photo: Facebook/Egypt Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities