Byzantine-Era wine press found in Israel

A BYZANTINE-ERA WINE PRESS has been excavated in Israel:

1,400 year-old Byzantine wine press uncovered

15 Feb 2010

The press, unearthed during an excavation by the Israel Antiquities Authority, is one of the largest ever discovered in Israel.

(Communicated by the Israel Antiquities Authority Spokesperson)

One of the largest wine presses ever revealed in an archaeological excavation in the country, which was used to produce wine in the Late Byzantine period (sixth-seventh centuries CE), was recently exposed in excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority. The excavation was carried out in a region that will be the farmland of Ganei Tal, a new community slated to be built for the evacuees from Gush Katif.

The impressive wine press is 1,400 years old and measures 6.5 x 16.5 meters. It was discovered southwest of Kibbutz Hafetz-Haim and was partly damaged during the installation of the infrastructure there.

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