The Neolithic site of Dikili Tash (also called Philippoi) is a tell located in the Drama plain of eastern Macedonia in northern Greece. The site is dated to the Neolithic period (ca 4460-4000 BC). The ruins of four Late Neolithic houses were discovered during excavations. The houses had burned quickly, resulting in an excellent level of preservation for archaeobotanical remains including einkorn wheat, barley, lentils, figs, wild pear, acorns, and grapes.
A total of 2460 grape pips were discovered within the burned house ruins at Dikili Tash, as were over 300 empty, pressed grape skins, and grape pollen. Since empty grape skins would not occur naturally even from burning, archaeologists believe their presence at Dikili Tash indicates evidence of pressing grapes for juice and presumably wine manufacture.
Dikili Tash is not the oldest site in the world to have evidence of wine production—that currently is the site of Hajji Firuz Tepe, Iran, dated to the 6th millennium BC; it is the earliest in the Aegean.
Sources
Valamoti, S. M., M. Mangafa, Ch. Koukouli-Chrysanthaki, and D. Malamidou 2007 Grape-pressings from northern Greece: the earliest wine in the Aegean? Antiquity 81(311):54–61.
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Any mistakes are the responsibility of Kris Hirst.
