Ancient agriculture

Map of sampling sites for olive and grapevine archaeobotanical finds. Credit: Riehl et al., 2025, PLOS One, CC-BY 4.0 ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/))

Bronze and Iron Age farmers invested in irrigation to preserve grapevine crops – and committed to wine production

  • No comments
A 6th-century AD mosaic discovered in a church in Kisufim (courtesy of the Israel Museum). The mosaic depicts Urbikon – a merchant or winemaker carrying a cluster of grapes in his hand, and leading a camel loaded with wine jars of the Gazan type.

New research reveals: This is how the thriving wine economy of the Byzantine Negev was built – and how it collapsed during the drought years

  • One response
The study found what conditions allowed vineyards to thrive in the desert and what caused agriculture to collapse during drought years. The researchers emphasize that the findings provide contemporary insights for managing water resources and strengthening agriculture in arid regions.
The Polynesian inhabitants of Easter Island today recreate ancient rituals. Illustration: depositphotos.com

A popular myth debunked: new finds change the history of Easter Island

  • No comments
Science website logo
SEARCH