1,600-Year-Old Wine Factory Unearthed in Turkey: A Roman-Era Discovery
Archaeological excavations never fail to fascinate, offering silent conversations with lost time through layers of soil. Every fragment of pottery, every coin, and every ruin of an ancient settlement tells a story of the people who once lived there.
In a recent expedition, archaeologists made a remarkable discovery connected to Turkey’s food culture: they unearthed an ancient wine production factory near the Kahta Castle, adjacent to the village of Oymaklı in the country’s southeastern region.
Anadolu Agency reported the discovery on October 16th, stating that the wine factory is approximately 1,600 years old. Archaeologists uncovered structures used for processing grapes, reservoirs for water storage, and a sturdy crushing machine at the site.
Echoes of the Roman Era
Researchers note that the design of these structures bears a striking resemblance to Roman-era wine factories found across the Mediterranean region.
• Ancient Production: During that period, grape juice was extracted by crushing grapes either by hand or using a wooden beam press.
• Flow and Storage: The juice would then flow through a stone channel into large stone-built containers. Finally, the grape juice was stored in large earthenware jars (doliums) for the fermentation process.
Based on the foundations of the excavated structures, researchers estimate the site dates back to the Fourth Century—a time when Christianity was rapidly spreading across Turkey.
Mehmet Alkan, Director of the local museum, expressed astonishment, noting that despite being built with unevenly sized stones, the structure’s foundation is “incredibly well-preserved.”
