Archaeologists recently discovered a wine production center believed to be over 1,600 years old near the historic Kahta Castle in Turkey.
According to Anadolu Agency, a state-run news outlet in Turkey, an ancient wine production center was discovered in a mountainous region near the village of Oymakli in the southeastern part of the country. The outlet noted that the wine production center was discovered as the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism conducted excavations after multiple historical fragments were found in the area.
Anadolu Agency reported that the archeological discovery is part of a 37-acre Roman-era settlement. During the excavations, archaeologists discovered building foundations, grape-processing installations, grinding stones, and cisterns believed to be from the 4th century A.D.
According to the state-run news outlet, the Roman-era settlement is located near Kahta Castle, which was initially constructed in the 2nd century B.C. for the Kingdom of Commagene and became a strategic fortress during the Roman era.
According to Anatolian Archaeology, Adiyaman Museum Director Mehmet Alkan claimed that the archaeological site could have operated at a “large-scale production” during the Roman era. Alkan also suggested that the site could have been used as a residential area at some point since it is located close to Kahta Castle.
READ MORE: 1,600-year-old settlement discovered with Roman military artifacts
“The number of grape workshops indicates that this was not a small farmstead but a site of large-scale production,” the museum director said in a statement obtained by Anatolian Archaeology. “The architecture, though made of roughly cut stones, clearly reflects Roman construction techniques.”
Anatolian Archaeology reported that the site of the ancient wine production near the village of Oymakli will be officially designated as a protected archaeological zone after it is submitted to government authorities for preservation.
According to Anatolian Archaeology, additional excavations are expected to reveal more archaeological finds in the area. The outlet noted that additional discoveries could include burial sites, storage rooms, or road traces that could have connected the wine production building to other Roman infrastructure.
“We believe further investigation will reveal more surprises,” Alkan stated. “Every new find helps us understand how deeply the Roman presence extended into this mountainous landscape.”
Pictures of the recent archaeological discovery were shared on Wednesday by The New York Post on X, formerly Twitter.
