There’s something exciting about renovating a house.
Replacing the old with the new and converting a living space into a home that truly reflects one’s personality can bring great joy and satisfaction.
But experts are dumbfounded after wine that was hidden for two millennia was discovered in Spain.
While doing renovations, a homeowner in Carmona, Spain, discovered a 2,000-year-old tomb that belonged to the western necropolis of Carmo, an ancient Roman city in the Baetic region.
The tomb was an archeologist’s dream.
Since no one has entered it since it was sealed 2,000 years ago, everything placed in the tomb was still there and in its original position.
A round shaft hewn out of the rock led to a rectangular arched vault that was built from cut sandstone and painted with red and ochre geometric shapes.
Burial urns housed in sandstone or limestone boxes tucked away in alcoves captivate the imagination.
Glass urn hides hidden treasure
But what makes this tomb truly remarkable is what’s been discovered inside a beautiful glass urn with m−shaped handles.
In this exceptionally well-preserved vessel resides the oldest wine still in liquid form on record.
José Rafael Ruiz Arrebola, an organic chemistry professor at the University of Córdoba, explained this baffling occurrence.
A perfectly hermetic seal between the urn and its lid prevented evaporation.
This seal also prevented oxidation from fully breaking down the wine, even though it had decayed significantly.
Chemical analysis of the wine found the composition was quite similar to the Fino wines that are currently produced in the former Baetic region of Spain.
But wine that survived for two millennia is only the beginning of this story.
The cremated bones of a 40-year old human male were found lying at the bottom of the urn.
This was a previously unknown practice.
Historians have speculated that Romans may have used wine to cleanse the bones of their deceased, but no physical evidence has proved it.
Another theory posits that the wine was part of a Roman libation ritual for ushering the dead into the next world with alcohol.
Roman wine wasn’t the only surprise found in this hidden treasure trove.
Ancient secret revealed
Traces of perfume were also found sealed in a rock crystal bottle that was near some solidified female remains.
Researchers analyzed the residue and discovered that it was an essential oil called patchouli.
For the first time ever, the chemical composition of a Roman perfume was established.
All told, the remains of three women and three men were found.
Many other artifacts, including a bowl containing bits of amber, oil lamps, minor ceramic utensils, a glass mosaic plate, and necklace of amber beads helped date the find to the first half of the 1st Century.
Rare discovery brings new understanding
Since it’s exceptional to find a well-preserved and un-raided tomb, the artifacts offered a unique opportunity for study.
This amazing discovery has provided archeologists, scientists, and historians with a unique glimpse into how the Romans lived and how they sent off their dead.
And it’s all thanks to a homeowner’s renovation.
Patriot Political will keep you up-to-date on any developments to this ongoing story.
