5,000-year-old wine press and evidence of religious rituals unearthed during a road construction project in Israel

Archaeologists have discovered evidence of an ancient religious practice in northern Israel, as well as a winepress dating back approximately 5,000 years, one of the oldest ever discovered in the country, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority.

The winepress, which is also the oldest relic of wine production in Israel, was found during an excavation at the Tel Megiddo archaeological site, the agency said, noting that the work was carried out before the planned construction of a road through the same area.

Authorities said the winepress, which was carved from stone, was evidence that a Canaanite religious group existed at the site thousands of years ago. The Canaanites were an ancient indigenous people who inhabited the area known as Canaan, which was located in “the Levant” along the eastern Mediterranean Sea, from Greece to western Europe, according to EBSCO. They were a mixed ethnic group, although the Hebrew Bible distinguishes them from the Israelites and teaches that the Israelites arrived later than them.

Dr. Amir Golani and Barak Tzin, excavation directors at the Israel Antiquities Authority, said the discovery of the winepress was unprecedented.

“Until now, indirect evidence indicated that wine could have been produced 5,000 years ago, but we had no conclusive evidence of this, ‘irrefutable proof’ that clearly showed when this happened in our area,” they said in a statement. “This winery finally provides new and clear evidence that early wine production actually occurred here.”

In addition to the winepress, archaeologists found a model of a small temple and a set of ceremonial utensils, which were approximately 3,300 years old. These were among a broader collection of items found during excavations in the region, which covered about three-quarters of a mile and “uncovered many finds from different periods,” the authority said. Their discoveries spanned the Early Bronze Age, which lasted from approximately 3300 to 3000 BC. C., and the Late Bronze Age, which developed approximately between 1550 and 1400 BC. c.

There was further evidence of early Canaanite populations in the area, the authority said. They included residential buildings discovered around the winepress, ritual vessels and pottery imported from Cyprus, which are believed to illuminate some of the ceremonies and ritual cultures of ancient people.

The new discoveries were on display Thursday at the annual conference on innovations and research in Israeli excavations, organized by the Israel Antiquities Authority and the School of Archeology and Maritime Civilizations at the University of Haifa.