A group of international archaeologists has discovered that the Stone Age farmers who lived in the area near Tbilisi, Georgia 8,000 years ago were the world’s earliest known winemakers. The site, known as Gadachrili Gora, was excavated and broken pottery, including large jar bases, were found embedded in the village houses’ floors. Chemical analysis of the pottery fragments showed the presence of tartaric acid, a chemical fingerprint of wine residues, indicating that the people at Gadachrili Gora were producing wine on a large scale as early as 6,000 B.C.

Combined with the grape decorations on the pottery, the grape pollen in the soil, and radiocarbon dates, the chemical analysis provides evidence that the Stone Age farmers were the world’s first winemakers. The lack of grape seeds or stems in the soil suggests that the wine was made in the nearby hills, close to where the grapes were grown. The fact that no tree resin or other preserving agents were found in the wine suggests that these were early experiments in winemaking and that the wine was seasonal, produced and consumed before it had a chance to spoil.

The discovery sheds new light on the Neolithic period, when humans were first learning to farm and settle down, and domesticate crops and animals. The results indicate that just a few thousand years after the first domestication of wild grasses, the people at Gadachrili were already producing wine. The evidence shows how inventive humans were, learning the art of fermentation and improving the production of Vitis vinifera, the European grape.

Georgia still has a rich wine culture, with over 500 local grape varieties, a sign of the long history of grape growing and breeding in the area. The wine culture in Georgia has deep historical roots, as demonstrated by the large jars similar to the Neolithic vessels that are still used to make wine today. The results show that Stone Age people lived complex, sophisticated lives, with interests beyond basic survival.

The archaeologists and specialists hope to identify the modern variety of grape closest to what was growing near the Gadachrili village and plant an experimental vineyard nearby to learn more about prehistoric winemaking. Further excavation of the site may also reveal even older layers, providing further insights into the history of winemaking and the sophistication of Stone Age societies.