Jugs of wine aged 5,000 years were found in Egypt (5 photos)

No royalty was buried with such honors and treasures as the ancient Egyptian pharaohs and their families. The afterlife of the rulers was thought out to the smallest detail: spacious tombs were built for them, decorated around the entire perimeter and filled with everything necessary. The Egyptian queen Merneit was no exception.





The tomb in Abydos, Egypt, consists of many rooms where the buried four dozen servants could look after their mistress after death. However, one of the most striking finds in the complex is a collection of hundreds of clay jars that once held wine, some of which are still sealed.



5,000 year old wine jugs, some of which are sealed

Jugs of wine were buried with the queen 5,000 years ago. Merneith was an influential woman, perhaps she could have been the first female pharaoh. Her status was reflected in the luxury of funeral attributes, including wine.



Tomb of Queen Merneith of the First Dynasty

Excavation director Christiane Köhler, from the University of Vienna, said: “Given that this is evidence of the lives and actions of people 5,000 years ago, we are amazed every day by the amazing finds that come up during our research, including beautifully preserved grape seeds, handicrafts and even footprints. ".



Grape seeds found in jugs

“The discovery of sealed and intact jars at Abydos, as well as well-preserved grape seeds, could significantly expand our understanding of the earliest periods of wine production, use and trade in the ancient Mediterranean and North Africa. Analysis of preserved remains could, for example, shed light on the chemical composition of wine , its taste and the additives used,” suggested researcher Emlyn Dodd.



Excavation process