According to foreign media reports, archaeologists have discovered the world's largest winery in the Byzantine period in the Israeli town of Yavni. The 1,500-year-old complex is used to produce a large number of commercial wines, and the excavation director calculates that about 2 million liters of wine are sold each year.
The Byzantine Empire, which existed between approximately 330 and 1453 AD, is one of the world's leading civilizations. The winery has five wine presses, four large warehouses for aging and selling wine, and a kiln for firing clay amphoras (or jars) for storing wine.
Jon Seligman, archaeologist and co-director of excavations, told the media on Tuesday: "The size of the winery is so exciting. He added that "the complexity of construction and industrial processes" is surprising. Seligman said the excavations, led by the Israel Antiquities Authority, are one of the largest excavation projects in the country, with about 300 staff digging there five days a week.
The head of the excavation said that the site is likely to be the main producer of the ancient world-famous brand "Gaza and Ashkelon Wine", and wines from Gaza and Ashkelon will be distributed as commercial products throughout the Mediterranean Basin. Seligman added that various ancient sources say it is a "pale white wine." "It was a prestigious product that was loved by many aristocrats during this period. For example, we know that the wine was preserved on Justin II's table during his coronation in 566... This gave an insight into the importance of this wine to the region, both in terms of gastronomy and economics. ”
A number of amphoras known as "Gaza jars" were also found at the site, intact along with thousands of fragments. A rare Persian wine press has also been found inside the estate – a machine older than the complex itself, about 2,300 years old.
Since the entire wine production process is done by hand, the grapes are crushed barefoot to extract liquid on the stampede floor, which is located next to the compartments where the wine is fermented and octagonal vats, and then the wine is collected.
The excavation is part of the Israel Land Authority's plan to develop the town of Yavne, directed by Elie Haddad and Liat Nadav-Ziv and Seligman. Authorities eventually planned to protect the complex and open it to the public as part of an archaeological park.
Wuhan Morning Post intern reporter Chen Mengting