{"id":14153,"date":"2025-11-14T15:01:50","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T20:01:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/christnewstoday\/?p=14153"},"modified":"2025-11-14T15:01:50","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T20:01:50","slug":"5000-year-old-winepress-uncovered-near-site-of-biblical-armageddon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/christnewstoday\/2025\/11\/5000-year-old-winepress-uncovered-near-site-of-biblical-armageddon.html","title":{"rendered":"5,000-Year-Old Winepress Uncovered Near Site of Biblical Armageddon"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Sky News Australia \/ Facebook<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced the discovery of a 5,000-year-old wine press and ancient ritual artifacts near the site of Tel Megiddo, which is referred to as \u201cArmageddon,\u201d the site of a final battle in the book of Revelation. The Winepress appears to date from the early Bronze Age and might have been carved into the Canaanites, the Biblical enemies mentioned in the Old Testament when the Israelites enter the Promised Land. It is the oldest winepress found in Israel to date. <\/span><\/p>\n

The location of the winepress might reveal something of the religious practices of Megiddo, which was considered a possible cultic center. Normally, such winepresses were built in fields near vines, but this winepress is in a residential area. \u201cWe knew the Canaanites drank wine, and we knew wine was being produced. Now for the first time, we have the smoking gun of actual production,\u201d said Amir Golani, one of the co-directors of the dig. Archaeologists also identified homes built of stone and mudbrick walls. <\/span><\/p>\n

Several Canaanite vessels were also found at the site, dating some 1,700 years after the winepress. The centerpiece resembles a ram that appears to function like a teapot. Golani referred to it jokingly as a \u201cCanaanite tea set\u201d for drinking with the gods. The set appeared to have been ritually buried in a pit. Golani theorized by the way the vessel and several cups were purposely buried could mean the set was \u201csacrificed.\u201d \u201cFor the first time in the entire region \u2013 we get a glimpse into the way Canaanites used these vessels in their ritual ceremonies thousands of years ago,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

There also appeared to be a miniature model of a shrine buried along with the set. \u201cIt represents a schematic shrine or temple modeled after something known at that time. We know of such shrines from other sites as well, though they are usually much larger, even as clay models, and much more elaborate,” said Golani. The site\u2019s simplicity suggests it was a sacrifice buried by simple folk to their gods. \u201cYou conclude, this is not a chance find; this has been dedicated, sanctified, purposefully entombed or buried along with other things,\u201d Golani suggested.<\/span><\/p>\n

The site could offer a plethora of insight on the religious practices of the area as well as a more accurate timeline of the development of wine. According to IAA director Eli Escusido, the finds are “revealing, layer by layer, the wealth of history hidden and embedded in the soil here.” “The exposure of ancient wine-making facilities, and the evidence of folk worship outside of Megiddo, allow us to become acquainted with the daily life and beliefs of the region’s residents over the course of thousands of years.”<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced the discovery of a 5,000-year-old wine press and ancient ritual artifacts near the site of Tel Megiddo, which is referred to as \u201cArmageddon,\u201d the site of a final battle in the book of Revelation. The Winepress appears to date from the early Bronze Age and might have been carved…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":516,"featured_media":14156,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14153","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n5,000-Year-Old Winepress Uncovered Near Site of Biblical Armageddon<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Archaeologists uncover a 5,000-year-old winepress and Canaanite ritual artifacts near biblical Megiddo, offering insights into worship.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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