Earliest evidence of wine-making in Caucasus found

Evidence of the earliest wine-making anywhere in the world have been found by archaeologists excavating the Neolithic sites of Gadachrili Gora and Shulaveris Gora, South of Tbilisi, Georgia.

Neolithic jug that was used in analysis (by Judyta Olszewski)
The earliest previously known chemical evidence of wine dated to 5400-5000 BC and was from an area in the Zagros Mountains of Iran. Now, archaeologists working under the Gadachrili Gora Regional Archaeological Project Expedition traced back the practice to the Neolithic period around 6000 BC, pushing it back 600-1000 years from the previously accepted date. Pottery fragments of ceramic jars recovered from the sites were collected and subsequently analysed by scientists at the University of Pennsylvania to ascertain the nature of the residue on its surface. The up-to-date methods of chemical extraction confirmed tartaric acid, the fingerprint compound for grape and wine as well as three associated organic acids – malic, succinic and citric – in the residue recovered from eight large jars. The researchers of University of Toronto (U of T) and the Georgian National Museum believe that viniculture one of the primary adaptations of the Neolithic way of life as it spread to Caucasus.

(after Judyta Olszewski  & PhysOrg)

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