Archaeologists Unearth 1600-Year-Old Roman Era Wine Shop in Greece

In the ancient city of Sikyon in southern Greece, archaeologists have discovered the ruins of a Roman-era wine shop dating back approximately 1600 years. The building was destroyed by a "sudden event," possibly an earthquake or a sudden collapse of the structure, according to Arkeonews.

The structure comprised a complex of rooms, including a space where grapes and olives were pressed, as revealed by the archaeological findings. Workshops equipped with ovens and tools for processing grapes and olives were also identified, indicating that this establishment not only traded in wine and oil but also produced these products.

Despite the numerous artefacts found, researchers are currently struggling to identify the specific types of wines that were sold in this establishment.

"Unfortunately, we have no direct evidence of the exact types of wine that could have been sold. We have some evidence of grape seeds of Vitis vinifera, but at this point, we cannot say anything more specific," said archaeologist Scott Gallimore.

Experts at the excavation site uncovered marble countertops and various vessels made of bronze, glass, and ceramics. Broken pottery and a collection of 60 coins scattered on the floor were also found, providing insight into the final moments of this ancient establishment.

Most of the coins date back to the era of Constantius II, which lasted from 337 to 361 AD. The latest coin in the collection was minted between 355 and 361 AD.

Considering that the coins were scattered on the shop floor, it can be imagined that they were stored in some container or bag. A sudden event that destroyed the shop likely led to the container falling, dispersing the coins across the floor.

In other news, The Gaze reported yesterday that one of the most famous Parisian restaurants, La Tour d'Argent, lost several valuable wine bottles worth over 1.5 million euros. The loss was discovered during a routine inventory of the wine cellar. In comparison to the 2020 inventory, 83 bottles of expensive wine are now missing. The restaurant owners have filed a police report, but law enforcement has yet to find signs of a crime. However, the restaurant notes that due to the unique numbering of the bottles, it will be challenging for thieves to discreetly sell them.