Bronze Age grape seeds discovered

Grape seeds, thought to be from a type of Muscat, dating to the Bronze Age have been uncovered in western Turkey.

Excavations taking place in the Bornova district of Izmir have revealed a number of Bronze Age artifacts, among them a large number of dried, carbonsied grape seeds found in the bottom of several bowls.

Around 5,000 years old the seeds are believed to be Bornova Muscat – a local synonym for the classic Muscat Blanc à Petit Grains which is found all over the world and was known and cultivated by the ancients.

They are thought to be the oldest grape seeds ever uncovered in Turkey and the head of the dig, professor Zafer Derin of Ege University, said they could help shed valuable light on the way of life in ancient Western Anatolia.

Grape seeds have been uncovered before in the area. Some pips from the Byzantine period were uncovered in the Negev in Israel last year and the seeds and residue found in jars in Canaanite palaces is revealing how Bronze Age societies enjoyed the wine they produced.