In Carmona, Andalusia, archaeologists have unearthed what is believed to be the oldest wine ever found in a burial urn mixed with cremated human remains. The discovery was made during an excavation of a house that was undergoing renovations in 2019. The liquid inside the urn was analyzed and found to be white wine, despite its dark color, as it did not contain polyphenols found in grape skins used for red wine.
Juan Manuel Román, an archaeologist and co-author of the report, expressed his surprise at finding the liquid in the urns during excavation. The discovery was made alongside other findings such as a gold ring in the dark reddish liquid that filled the urn’s brim. The cremated remains in the wine are believed to belong to a 45-year-old man.
The use of wine in ancient Roman burials was common practice, with experts suggesting that it was part of a ritual to help the deceased on their journey to the afterlife. However, this discovery marks a unique find as it involves mixing remains with wine, which is unprecedented among other practices.
Scientists have also added that the liquid inside the urn is similar to Fino wines produced in the region today. This suggests that winemaking techniques may have been well established even back then.
Overall, this discovery sheds light on how important wine played in ancient Roman culture and how much attention they paid to their production methods even thousands of years ago.
