The Grape Press

Site Description: The archaeological evidence spread throughout the Palestinian sites, confirms the significant development witnessed by the Palestinian territories in cultivating vine trees during the end of the Roman and Byzantine eras.This agricultural expansion coincided with a development in the manufacture and trade of wine, and its export abroad, including through the ports of the Mediterranean Sea to the regions of Europe. The discovery of this press comes in the context of additional evidence of the development of this industry during the Byzantine period.The press was discovered during the early nineties of the last century, due to test excavations held by the Department of Antiquities. Additional excavations followed these excavations during subsequent periods, the latest of which was within the project of rehabilitation operations, carried out by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in Irtah Ruin as an archaeological park.This press was one of the most significant and most essential grape presses discovered in the Palestinian territories during the Roman era and served as an industrial facility reflecting the widespread cultivation of vine trees in the surrounding area. However, there is a need for more excavation and rehabilitation works on this mill, to present it to visitors as one of the main features of Irtah Archaeological Park.