Archaeologists in Israel have uncovered a rare winepress and a set of ritual objects near the eastern edge of Tel Megiddo, a site long linked to biblical history. The discovery, made during a salvage excavation ahead of major roadwork, sheds light on ancient winemaking and religious practices in the region.
The excavation, led by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), exposed hundreds of features along a 1.2-kilometer (0.75-mile) stretch of the highway. Among the earliest finds is a rock-cut winepress dating back about 5,000 years to the Early Bronze IB period.
The installation includes a sloped treading floor and a collecting vat carved into the bedrock, indicating early methods of grape processing.
Excavation directors Amir Golani and Barak Tzin explained that few winepresses from this period have been found, and its timing coincides with the rise of the region’s first urban centers. They noted that until now, evidence for winemaking from this time was mostly indirect, making this find a critical piece of physical proof.
Canaanite rituals revealed through rare artifacts
Nearby, archaeologists discovered a group of ritual vessels from the Late Bronze Age II, approximately 3,300 years old.
These items were buried beside a large rock outcrop that may have functioned as an open-air altar overlooking the ancient temple atop the Megiddo mound. The collection includes jugs, flasks, imported Cypriot pottery, and a rare libation set shaped like a ram.
The ram-shaped artifact features a bowl fused to its back, believed to have been used to pour liquids. When tilted, the fluid would exit through the ram’s mouth into a receiving bowl below.
Because the entire set was buried intact, researchers say it offers a rare look at Canaanite ritual customs. They believe local farmers may have placed offerings of milk, oil or wine near the city gate, forming a folk practice that existed outside the formal religious structure within Megiddo.
Winepress, ritual objects, and ancient practices unearthed at Megiddo
IAA Director Eli Escusido described the excavation as a remarkable opportunity to connect with the everyday lives of people who lived thousands of years ago. He emphasized that the winepress and ritual artifacts reflect both agricultural and spiritual aspects of the region’s ancient culture.
Netivei Israel CEO Nissim Peretz said the Highway 66 expansion project, part of the national Connecting Israel initiative, aims to improve transport while preserving heritage. The route will be upgraded into a dual carriageway with two lanes in each direction.
The artifacts will go on public display starting Sunday, November 9, at the National Archaeological Park of the Land of Israel in Jerusalem.
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