‘Smoking gun’ of ancient wine production unearthed in northern Israel

Excavations in northern Israel unearth one of the oldest hewn winepresses ever discovered in Israel, along with 3,300-year-old ritual items.

By World Israel News Staff

Archaeologists working in northern Israel recently uncovered an ancient hewn winepress — one of the oldest ever discovered in Israel, along with a collection of ritual items likely used by Canaanite folk religions shortly before the arrival of the Israelites.

The relics were discovered during archaeological excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority in the Jezreel Valley area, east of Tel Megiddo.

According to the Israel Antiquities Authority, an impressive 5,000-year-old hewn winepress was found, testifying to the early spread of the Canaanites and onset of urbanization in northern Israel.

In addition, excavators found items, dating back some 3,300 years, which were likely used by local Canaanite folk religions, including a ceramic shrine model and an intact ceremonial zoomorphic utensil kit.

The finds span the Early Bronze Age IB/Early Canaanite period, 5,000 years ago, and the Late Bronze Age II/Late Canaanite period, 3,300 years ago.

The ancient winepress was carved into the rock, with a sloping treading surface and collection vat.

“This winepress is unique, one of very few known from such an ancient period when urbanization first took place in our region,” said Dr. Amir Golani and Barak Tzin, Excavation Directors on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority.

“Winepresses are indeed very common throughout the country, but it is very difficult to date them. Until now, indirect evidence indicated that wine could have been produced 5,000 years ago, but we did not have conclusive proof of this – a ‘smoking gun’ that would clearly show when this happened in our area.”

“This winepress finally provides new and clear evidence that early wine production actually took place here.”

A number of residential buildings were also uncovered around the winepress – evidence of its importance within the community at that time and of Megiddo’s expansion far beyond the well-known boundaries of the tell.

The excavation uncovered additional surprises that shed light on the ancient Canaanite religious cults at Megiddo.

Ritual vessels uncovered at the site were carefully placed in the ground in an orderly burial as ritual offerings.

These included a miniature ceramic model of a shrine, storage jars, imported jugs and juglets from Cyprus, and a unique and impressive set of vessels, which was probably used for libations, or the ceremonial pouring of liquids.

This set comprises a zoomorphic vessel in the shape of a ram, with a few small bowls nearby.

Vessels like this are usually discovered only as isolated occasional fragments, making it difficult for researchers to understand their complete form and how they functioned together. Since this set was buried intact, and in a manner hinting at its function, it allows – for the first time in the entire region – a glimpse into the way Canaanites used these vessels in their ritual ceremonies thousands of years ago.

“A small bowl, which was attached to the ram’s body, was designed to function as a funnel; and a similar bowl – with a handle – was probably held to pour the liquid into the funnel during a ceremony,” IAA researchers explained.

“The ram’s head was shaped like a spout. Once the vessel was filled, tilting the ram forward spilled the liquid out from its mouth to collect it into a small bowl placed before it. The vessel seems intended for pouring a valuable liquid such as milk, oil, wine or another beverage, which could either be drunk directly from the spout, or poured into a smaller vessel for consumption, or as a votive gift.”

The researchers believe that the burial locations of these ritual vessels in the ground yet in the direct line of sight to the large temple area operating at Tel Megiddo in the Late Bronze Age II – may indicate a Canaanite folk cult that took place outside the city on the way to the main city gate – possibly by local farmers who could not enter the city and its temple, coming from their nearby fields to offer consecrations of liquids or valuable agricultural produce, such as wine or oil.

Some of these offerings were discovered as intact pottery vessels buried next to a large rock outcrop, which may have served as an open-air altar outside the Canaanite city of Megiddo.

“Megiddo has been excavated for over a century,” the researchers added. “While it is long-recognized as a key site in the study of ancient urbanism and Canaanite worship, the excavations we conducted east of the tel have revealed a new part of the matrix between the known settlement in the city – evidence of which has been revealed upon the tel – and the activities taking place in the area around and outside the city.”

“The 5,000-year-old hewn winepress places the beginnings of the local wine industry in a very early urban-settlement context, while the offerings from the period about 3,300 years ago indicate the continuity of ritual consecration and libations outside the sacred complex within the tell, possibly expressing aspects of the local Canaanite folk cult.”

archaeologyIsraeli archaeology