Upon excavating the ancient Roman necropolis of Carmo in present-day Spain, archaeologists stumbled upon a remarkable find that has intrigued the scientific community. A sealed jar of wine dating back approximately 2,000 years was uncovered in a mausoleum, along with the cremated remains of a Roman man. This discovery has now claimed the title of the world’s oldest known vintage, surpassing the 4th century CE Speyer wine bottle by centuries. The wine, once a sweet white, has since been tainted with a reddish hue and contains traces of human remains.
The mausoleum in which the wine jar was found is believed to have belonged to a specific Roman family. Surprisingly, the tomb remained sealed and intact, unlike many ancient burial sites that have fallen victim to looters over time. Apart from the wine jar, the tomb contained a range of luxurious grave goods including patchouli perfume, jewelry, fabrics, glass objects, and a large lead container. The sealed glass urn, partially filled with liquid, was a rare and intriguing find.
Chemist Daniel Cosano and his team from the University of Cordoba in Spain conducted an extensive series of chemical analyses to determine the composition of the liquid inside the sealed wine jar. Various techniques such as measuring the pH, identifying mineral salts, and analyzing organic matter were employed. Additionally, high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to identify polyphenols present in the liquid. The results indicated that the liquid was indeed wine, with similarities to wines from nearby regions such as Montilla-Moriles, Jerez, and Sanlúcar.
Despite the reddish color of the liquid in the jar, it was concluded that the wine was originally a white varietal. The absence of syringic acid, a polyphenol found in red wine, further supported this hypothesis. Although the exact region where the wine was produced could not be definitively determined due to the lack of contemporaneous local wines for comparison, it bore similarities to modern wines from the area. Notably, the wine showed resemblance to the sweet wines of Montilla-Moriles, a region known for producing high-quality wines.
The Roman man buried in the wine-filled urn was not alone in the mausoleum. Five other individuals, including a woman named Hispana, were interred in the same chamber. While Hispana’s urn did not contain wine, it held precious items such as amber jewels, a rock crystal jar of patchouli, and silk fabric. The Roman man’s urn, on the other hand, contained a gold ring adorned with a depiction of Janus, the Roman god of transitions and passages. These artifacts shed light on the lives and beliefs of the individuals laid to rest in the tomb.
The discovery of the ancient Roman wine tomb in Carmo has provided valuable insights into Roman funerary practices, societal customs, and wine production during that era. The preservation of the wine, along with the artifacts found in the mausoleum, has sparked renewed interest in the study of ancient civilizations and their burial rituals. This unique find serves as a testament to the rich history and cultural heritage of the Roman Empire, allowing us to glimpse into the lives of those who lived thousands of years ago.