This website is based on "The Beginnings of Winemaking and Viniculture in the Ancient Near East and Egypt," an article by Dr. Patrick McGovern, featured in Expedition Magazine, volume 39, no. 1		C o n t e n t s : Intro - living out our past through wine Neolithic Period - "chateau hajji firuz" Egypt - wine for the afterlife Mesopotamia - under the grape arbors... One of a kind laboratory - ancient evidence; modern technology Map - wine's whereabouts: then and now The grapevine & tree resins - nature's ingredients ............................................................. Credits Glossary Links

Credits

"The Origins and Ancient History of Wine" may be purchased from our Museum Shop. Patrick E. McGovern is a Senior Research Scientist in archaeological chemistry and ceramics in the Museum's Applied Science Center for Archaeology (MASCA) and Adjunct Associate Professor in Anthropology. His academic background combined the physical sciences, archaeology, and history. Recently, his research has focused on ancient indigoid dyes (such as Royal Purple, the famous dye of the Phoenicians) and fermented beverages. Among many other publications, his book on "The Origins and Ancient History of Wine" is the first comprehensive treatment of ancient wine. As a Research Associate in the Near East Section of the Museum, he has directed excavations in Jordan and published Museum monographs on the Baq'ah Valley Project and Beth Shan. Donald Glusker is a Research Associate in MASCA's Archaeochemistry Laboratory. He received a D.Phil. in Physical Chemistry from Oxford University, where his thesis involved infrared spectroscopy. He had a research career in polymer chemistry for 35 years at the Rohm and Haas Company. Lawrence Exner is a volunteer in MASCA's Archaeochemistry Laboratory. He received his bachelor and master's degree in Organic Chemistry from Temple University, and had a research career in organic synthesis for 40 years at the Rohm and Haas Company.

[top]