Quest for the Origins and Ancient History of Wine
IN BRIEF: From the analysis of skeletal materials, botanical remains and residues inside pottery vessels, research is shedding light on human biocultural and technological development and the presence of wine for more than 7000 years of this history.
The history of wine somewhat precedes the classification of Bordeaux reds and the California Renaissance. The oldest wine jar reassembled and preserved dates to the period 5400-5000 B.C. A photograph of this jar, along with a series of fascinating articles, trace the role of beer and wine in the advance of human activity from Neolithic time to the present. All of this can be found at the University of Pennsylvania's Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology website.
Starting with an article on the Neolithic period (8500-4000 B.C.), the website provides enlightening insights to a story that is still being unveiled. It was during the Neolithic period we began to see the establishment of permanent, year-round settlements and the accompanying perfection of pottery vessels in this period provided conditions leading to advances in food preservation and to success in beermaking and winemaking. It led also to the domestication of the wild Eurasian grapevine and to the emergence of our current cuisine.
An article on Mesopotamia reveals that chemical evidence of wine can be found inside jars that could have been used to transport and serve it. "Wine was probably being enjoyed by at least the upper classes in Late Uruk times (ca. 3500-3100 B.C.). Early Dynastic cylinder seals depict the royalty and their entourages drinking beer with tubes/straws from large jars and a second beverage--presumably wine--from hand-held cups."
The article on Egypt states, "the wild grape never grew in ancient Egypt", but by 2700 B.C. "a thriving royal winemaking industry had been established in the Nile Delta--most likely due to Early Bronze Age trade between Egypt and Palestine ... and by the end of the Old Kingdom, five wines--all probably made in the Delta--constitute a canonical set of provisions, or fixed 'menu', for the afterlife."
Far from this being a dry and static subject, the Museum's Archaeological Chemistry Laboratory, under the leadership of Dr. Patrick McGovern, is using and developing a whole range of new techniques to open the secrets of archaeological remains. From the analysis of skeletal materials, botanical remains and residues inside pottery vessels, the research is shedding light on human biocultural and technological development. Anyone interested in beer and wine and/or the advances of society, should be aware of this work and stay tuned for more chapters in the story.
Check out the Museum's website at