5,000-year-old wine found in Egyptian tomb
5,000-year-old wine discovered in Egypt (RBC-Ukraine collage)
Sealed wine jars, made 5,000 years ago, were discovered in the tomb of a woman who was considered the first female pharaoh of Egypt, according to the New York Post.
What is known about the discovery
A German-Austrian team led by archaeologist Christiana Köhler from the University of Vienna was conducting excavations of Queen Meret-Neith's tomb in Abydos when they came across large wine jars. Some of them were well-preserved and even sealed in their original state.
“The wine was no longer liquid, and we can’t tell if it was red or white,” Köhler said.
“We found a lot of organic residues, grape seeds and crystals, possibly tartar, and all of this is currently being scientifically analyzed. It is probably the second oldest direct evidence for wine; the oldest also comes from Abydos,” she added.
(swns.com)
While her true identity remains a mystery, Meret-Neith was the only woman who had her own monumental tomb in the first royal cemetery of Egypt in Abydos. Based on inscriptions on the tomb, researchers determined that she was responsible for government agencies such as the treasury, around 3,000 BC.
Meret-Neith was the predecessor of Queen Hatshepsut from the 18th dynasty.
“The new excavations bring to light exciting new information about this unique woman and her time,” Köhler said.
