ARMENIA: At the cave complex that held the world's oldest shoe ("World Roundup," September/October 2010), archaeologists have discovered the oldest known wine-making facility. First, they found a sloped platform with elevated edges containing the remains of crushed grapes—a wine press. Below that was a fermentation vat, along with more dried grapes, seeds, and vines. The winery is surrounded by human burials, suggesting that the drink made there was for ritual purposes. Hey, oenophiles—biochemical analysis shows it was a red.
ARMENIA
Around the World May 1, 2011
Recommended Articles
Digs & Discoveries September/October 2024
A Nightcap for the Ages
Artifacts November/December 2021
Middle Bronze Age Flask
-
Features November/December 2024
The Many Faces of the Kingdom of Shu
Thousands of fantastical bronzes are beginning to reveal the secrets of a legendary Chinese dynasty
Courtesy Sichuan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology -
Features September/October 2024
Ancient DNA Revolution
How the rapidly evolving field of archaeogenetics is unlocking secrets of the past
AdobeStock/lucaar -
Features September/October 2024
Hunting for the Lost Temple of Artemis
After a century of searching, a chance discovery led archaeologists to one of the most important sanctuaries in the ancient Greek world
Courtesy Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece -
Features July/August 2024
Java's Megalithic Mountain
Across the Indonesian archipelago, people raised immense stones to honor their ancestors
(Courtesy Lutfi Yondri)