Posted on 11/07/2021 9:19:26 AM PST by SunkenCiv
Archaeologists have excavated the first, and what they believe is the oldest, industrial wine press in northern Mesopotamia dating back more than 2,700 years and coinciding with a sharp rise in wine demand among the ruling imperial elites of Assyria.
One of the world's earliest empires, Assyria was located in the northern part of Mesopotamia - most of modern-day Iraq, as well as parts of Iran, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey...
Unearthed at the archaeological site of Khanis, near the northern Iraqi province of Dohuk, the discovery's value lies partly in its historical context, Bonacossi added.
Assyrian scripture has previously pointed to an increased demand in wine, especially among members of court and the broader social elite. It was used in various ceremonial practices among the rich.
Archaeobotanical remains have also shown an expansion in vineyards in the area at that time.
"In the late Assyrian period, between the 8th and the 7th century BC, there was a dramatic increase ... in wine demand and in wine production," said Bonacossi. "The imperial Assyrian court asked for more and more wine."
The discovery includes 14 installations carved into mountain rocks. The upper, square-shaped basins were used by people to press grapes underfoot, extracting the juice which ran off into the lower circular basins.
The grape juice was then collected in jars, fermented and sold on a large scale.
The site was discovered by a group of Italian archaeologists from the university of Udine in cooperation with antiquities authorities in Dohuk.
The teams are working on adding the ancient structure to the UNESCO world heritage list.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
How do ya press a family? /rimshot
Sidebar: when King Farouk was booted by the Egyptian officers (sounds like insurrection to me) the export of henna was outlawed. That was Lucille’s hair coloring. Luckily, she had a fan of Egyptian origin who kept her supplied.
There’s no alcohol like big alcohol. (t-shirt idea)
“I didn’t build the wine factory yet, but I’m sure he’s got enough wine to las- hey, do you smell smoke? And does that sound like swords banging on shields?”
soon to be destroyed!
“What’s the word?”
Cheers?
Funny. Connoisseurs used to sniff the metal screw caps to compare vintages. With Canned Heat blaring in the background.
Good one.
Scary to think many of the attendees are on city councils, school boards and in state legislatures now.
They stone you, and then they come back again.
Yeah, destroyed by an Iranian drone with a design based on some stuff Obama delivered to the mullahcracy.
I love stories like this.
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