Summary: Ancient grape seeds recently found share DNA with modern Israeli varieties.
And there [the Lord] lets the hungry dwell, and they establish a city to live in;
they sow fields and plant vineyards and get a fruitful yield. – Psalm 107:36-37 (ESV)
Genetic Link of Ancient Grape Seeds
A recent find of over 1,100-year-old red and white grape seeds has been called an “extraordinary and thrilling discovery” by archeologists from Tel Aviv University (TAU) and the University of Haifa. The seeds were found to carry genetic links matching modern varieties, providing evidence that some of Israel’s modern grapes are direct descendants of the grapes used to make wine consumed by ancient Israelites. The seeds were unearthed during archeological excavations in the Negev and have a fascinating connection with two Old Testament books of the Bible.
“One ancient seed was found to belong to the Syriki variety, still used to make high-quality red wine in Greece and Lebanon. Since wine grapes are usually named after their place of origin, it is quite possible that the name Syriki is derived from Nahal Sorek, an important stream in the Judean Hills,” researchers explained.
A second seed was identified as “related to the Be’er variety of white wine grapes still growing in the sands of Palmachim on the Mediterranean seashore,” said archeologists.
Excavations were led by Prof. Guy Bar-Oz and colleagues from the University of Haifa’s School of Archaeology and Maritime Cultures in collaboration with researchers from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). TAU’s Pnina Cohen and Dr. Meirva Meiri led the genetic study.
Seed Preservation
During the excavation, a large hoard of grape seeds was discovered on the floor of a sealed room at Avdat, an ancient city in the Negev. Fortunately, the location provided protection from climate changes such as extreme temperatures, flooding and drought leaving the seeds relatively well-preserved.
In an effort to discover which varieties the seeds came from, researchers extracted their DNA at the lab of TAU’s Steinhardt Museum of Natural History. “The science of paleogenomic uses a range of advanced technologies to analyze ancient genomes, primarily from archaeological findings,” explained Meiri.
“Since the DNA molecule is very sensitive and disintegrates over time, especially under high temperatures, we usually get only small pieces of DNA, often in a poor state of preservation,” Meiri continued. “To protect them, we work under special conditions: the paleogenetic lab is an isolated clean laboratory with positive air pressure that keeps contaminants out, and we enter it in sterilized ‘spacesuits’ familiar to everyone from the COVID pandemic.”
Researchers first checked for any organic matter remaining in the seeds by using FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy) – a chemical technique applying infrared radiation to produce a light spectrum that identifies the sample content. Remnants of organic matter were found in 16 seeds and samples were taken from them for testing.
The extracted DNA was sequenced, with an emphasis on about 10,000 genomic sites where variety-specific features are usually found. After that, the results were compared to databases of modern grapevines from around the world. Three high-quality genetic material samples were identified as belonging to local varieties. The other samples were too poor to allow definite conclusions.
Two of the three highest quality seeds, both from around 900 AD, were identified as belonging to specific local varieties that still exist today. “The wonderful thing about paleogenetics is that sometimes, tiny items can tell a big story. This is exactly what happened in our study. With just a bit of DNA extracted from two grape seeds, we were able to trace continuity in the local wine industry – from the Byzantine period, more than 1,000 years ago, to the present day,” said Meiri.
The third seed was identified as related to Be’er, a white wine grape variety still growing in Palmachim, a remnant of vineyards most likely abandoned in the mid- 20th century. Be’er is a unique local variety that is native to Israel. This was the first time ever that researchers were able to use the genome of a grape seed to determine the color of the fruit, discovering that it was in fact a white grape – the oldest botanical specimen of a white variety ever identified. The Barkan winery uses it to make a special white wine of its own.
This study was recently published in the leading scientific journal PNAS under the title “Ancient DNA from a lost Negev Highlands desert grape reveals a Late Antiquity wine lineage.”
Ancient Wine Trade
“Archaeological excavations conducted in the Negev in recent years have revealed a flourishing wine industry from the Byzantine and early Arab periods (around the 4th to 9th centuries CE, especially at the sites of Shivta, Haluza, Avdat and Nizana,) which were large, thriving cities at the time. The findings include large wine presses, jugs in which the exclusive wine exported to Europe was stored and grape seeds preserved for more than 1,000 years,” said Bar-Oz.
This industry “gradually declined following the Muslim conquest in the 7th century, since Islam forbids the consumption of wine. The cultivation of winegrapes in the Negev was renewed only in modern times, in the State of Israel, mostly since the 1980s,” noted Bar-Oz. “This industry, however, relies mainly on winegrape varieties imported from Europe.”
The Negev Desert constitutes 60% of Israel’s land but had become an area of mystery slowly through the years due to its arid landscape. Now with the development of agricultural innovations, tourism is growing. Visitors today can follow the Negev Wine Route and enjoy wine tasting and tours.
The new Negev Wine Club, formed in 2020 by the Merage Foundation, has a goal of strengthening small-scale wineries spread around the region. Currently, 25 wineries are a part of the club.
Even though desert conditions of today don’t seem the best for growing grapes, evidence shows that the region had lush vineyards thousands of years ago. The new wineries are bringing back the desert’s long grape-growing history.
Bible Connections
These ancient grape varieties discovered may be ones mentioned in two different books of the Bible. The purple variety of grapes could possibly be referred to in Genesis when Jacob blessed his son Judah saying:
“He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch [the vine of Sorek];
he will wash his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. – Gen. 49:11 (NIV)
The words translated as “choicest branch” literally mean “vine of Sorek” which was a kind of grape vine that was highly valued for its small, purple and luscious fruit (Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers).
The second variety of seed is possibly connected to the account given in Numbers when the Israelite spies brought back a giant cluster of grapes from Canaan after being sent by Moses to explore the Land of Israel.
“When they reached the Valley of Eshkol (identified by some as Nahal Sorek), they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs.” – Numbers 13:23
Conclusion
“We believe our findings are significant for Israel’s modern wine industry, which has been growing and thriving in recent decades. Today, most varieties grown here have been imported from Europe, but the local conditions are not optimal for them,” explained Meiri.
“Local varieties can be more suitable for the local climate and soil, especially in the Negev. Our study opens new paths for restoring and improving ancient local varieties, to create wine grapes that are more suitable for challenging climate conditions such as high temperatures and little rainfall,” Meiri concluded.
Numerous times in the Old Testament, God promised that the Land of Israel would have an abundance of grapes well-suited for winemaking. It’s interesting that now in modern times the country has again become the source of many fine vintages.
Keep Thinking!
TOP PHOTO: Ancient wine grape seeds under a microscope from Avdat. (credit: photo Prof. Guy Bar-Oz, The University of Haifa)
