Archaeologists have made a significant discovery in Carmona, a historic town in Andalusia, unearthing what is believed to be the world’s oldest bottle of wine. The find, which took place in 2019, includes a 2,000-year-old glass urn containing ancient Roman wine, cremated human bones, and a gold ring. This discovery sheds new light on Roman funerary practices and the cultural significance of wine in their society.
The urn was located in an unexplored section of Carmona’s necropolis, a vast burial site beneath the city. A lead case encased the urn, which was initially believed to date back to the fourth century. However, experts from the University of Córdoba later revised the dating to the first century, suggesting it may be the oldest wine ever discovered. The liquid inside the urn, despite its reddish hue, was confirmed to have originally been a white wine.
Researchers found that the urn contained the cremated remains of a male individual, whose ashes were submerged in the wine alongside a golden ring. This combination of items likely represents a funerary “trousseau,” a collection of personal belongings meant to accompany the deceased into the afterlife. José Rafael Ruiz Arrebola, an organic chemist at the University of Córdoba, noted that “Romans were proud, even in death, and used to build funeral monuments, such as towers, over their tombs so people could see them.” This indicates the importance of memory and legacy in Roman culture.
The tomb where the urn was discovered is believed to have belonged to a wealthy family. It was situated near what was once a major thoroughfare connecting Carmona with Seville, known as Hispalis during Roman times. This location indicates the family’s status and their desire for a significant burial site. In ancient Rome, the preparation of the deceased for their journey to the afterlife was of utmost importance, and the items found in the tomb reflect this belief.
It is noteworthy that the wine discovered in the Carmona urn narrowly surpasses the Speyer Wine Bottle, which is another Roman wine dating to 325 CE found in a tomb near Speyer, Germany. The discovery raises intriguing questions about social customs, particularly regarding gender. Historical records indicate that Romans typically prohibited women from drinking wine, considering it a beverage reserved for men. The presence of wine in this tomb suggests that such social divisions extended even into the afterlife.
This remarkable find not only provides valuable insights into Roman burial traditions but also highlights the rich history of winemaking in ancient civilizations. As archaeological research continues, there may be further revelations about the customs and beliefs that shaped the lives—and deaths—of those who lived over two millennia ago.
