In a remarkable archaeological discovery, while unearthing the tomb of the ancient Egyptian Queen Meret-Neith in Abydos, experts have unearthed a treasure trove of well-preserved wine jars dating back 5,000 years.
This extraordinary find encompasses numerous vessels, many of which remain sealed with their original stoppers still in place. Astonishingly, some of these jars even contain the remarkably well-preserved remains of grape seeds.
The excavation, spearheaded by Christiana Köhler, an archaeologist affiliated with the University of Vienna, has left the research team in awe of the remarkable state of preservation of these wine jars and other funerary items within Queen Meret-Neith’s tomb.
Köhler expressed her amazement at the ongoing discoveries, emphasizing the historical significance of the findings: “Considering that these are the remnants of people’s lives and actions from 5,000 years ago, we are stunned every day at the amazing detail we encounter during our investigations, including the perfectly preserved grape seeds, craftwork, and even footprints in the mud.”
Further scrutiny and analysis of these well-preserved vessels could potentially offer valuable insights into the ancient art of winemaking. Emlyn Dodd, an archaeologist affiliated with England’s Institute of Classical Studies, who was not directly involved in the excavation, noted that the continued examination of these artifacts has the potential to broaden our understanding of the ancient winemaking processes, adding a new dimension to the history of this timeless craft.
