The Ancestors of the Israelites Indulged in Wine 5000 Years Ago 0 10

During archaeological excavations prior to the expansion of Highway N 66 in the Jezreel Valley, archaeologists from the Antiquities Authority discovered one of the oldest wineries ever found in Israel. It is about 5000 years old and was carved into the rock.

"This is a special find. Wineries in Israel were not that rare, but this one belongs to a very early period, the time of the first urbanization. We had indirect evidence of wine production, but no direct evidence indicating when wine production began here. This is a crucial archaeological testimony," said excavation directors Barak Zion and Dr. Amir Golani.

Many residential buildings were found nearby, indicating that ancient Megiddo was not limited to the size of the hill.

Other interesting finds date back to the Late Bronze Age, about 3300 years ago. For instance, cult utensils were found buried in a specific order, according to tradition. This includes a miniature model of a temple, jugs, and ceramic vessels brought from Cyprus used in worship. There are also many shards.

One of the utensils is shaped like a ram, with its head serving as a spout. Scholars believe it was used for religious ceremonies – milk, oil, or wine were poured onto a special plate. However, it is also possible that the liquid was poured into ritual cups and consumed.

It is noted that the find was made outside the hill, but from this location, the main temple of Megiddo was visible. According to experts, these are signs of a popular Canaanite cult that was supported near the city, possibly by farmers.

"Excavations at Megiddo have been ongoing for over a century, but new archaeological investigations conducted to the east of the hill have uncovered new evidence of the connection between the city on the hill and extensive activities in the neighboring valley. This is indicated by both the winery and the cultic objects," the archaeologists said.