A copper container found in a Sicilian cave by Florida researchers has been found to contain residues of wine from 6,000 years ago, showing that Italy has been making wine for twice as long as previously thought.
The remains, found near Agrigento on Sicily’s southern coast, match the other previously-known oldest winemaking, in Armenia. Some experts believe that winemaking is actually even older, perhaps going back 10,000 years to the Neolithic Era.
The researchers, from the University of South Florida, say the find will help experts reconstruct how wine was produced and traded 6,000 years ago, saying “This newest research, led by the University of South Florida, provides a new perspective on the economy of that ancient society.”
However, they say, they couldn’t tell if the residue was from red or white wine.
