Early Bronze Age Viniculture at Numayra, Jordan: Archaeobotanical Evidence for Grape Processing

The techniques used to produce foods and beverages in prehistoric societies can provide significant information about ancient tastes, daily activities, and the organization of labor. Recent advances in experimental archaeobotany indicate that evidence for winemaking may be visible in the form of processed berries. At the Early Bronze Age settlement of Numayra along the Dead Sea, the analysis of preserved grape remains provides insight into the chaîne opératoire of winemaking activities carried out by residents. Evidence includes flattened berries indicating juice extraction, thousands of pips, and sheep/goat dung containing the remnants of discarded berry skins. Here I will discuss the archaeobotanical results from Numayra and illustrate their significance as a comparative study for other Early Bronze Age sites in the Levant.