1,400-year-old Wine Press Discovered

March 31, 2010

“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. Instead, it was intended for export, probably to Egypt…or to Europe, “explained Uzi Ad, excavation director. “The wine press’s collecting vats were neither circular nor square, as was the custom, but octagonal. And since this method of construction is far from being practical, because sediment would accumulate in the corners of the vats, it seems that they were built in this manner for primarily aesthetic reasons.” 

This is a complex wine press that reflects a very high level of technology for this period. The must (grape juice) that was produced would flow from the treading floor to a distributing vat and had a mosaic pavement. It was directed through a hole to one of two collecting vats located on either side, where it would remain for three to five days. A round sump that was used for collecting the waste grape sediment was also exposed.

From an IAA press release

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