1,600-Year-Old Roman Wine Factory Unearthed in Turkey’s Adiyaman Province

Archaeologists in southeastern Turkey have uncovered a wine production center believed to be about 1,600 years old. The discovery was made near the village of Oymakli, close to the ancient Kahta Castle, in a mountainous region of Adiyaman Province. The excavation was reported by Anadolu Agency, Turkey’s state-run news outlet, on October 16.

The site includes grape-processing installations, cisterns for water supply, and grinding stones. These features suggest that the facility was used for large-scale winemaking during the Roman era. The foundations of the building are still intact, despite being constructed with irregular stones. Mehmet Alkan, director of the provincial museum, said the structure’s preservation is remarkable given its age and materials.

Archaeologists believe the wine factory dates back to the 4th century. This period was marked by significant changes in the region, including the spread of Christianity and the rise of Constantinople as a major center of power. The site covers about 37 acres and is located near Kahta Castle, which was originally built in the 2nd century B.C. for the Kingdom of Commagene, a Greek-Iranian dynasty.

The excavation began after fragments considered historically valuable were found in the area. The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism supported the project. Experts say that due to its proximity to Kahta Castle, the site may have also served as a residential area at some point.

Officials plan to continue excavating and eventually register the site as a protected archaeological area to ensure its preservation. This discovery adds to a series of recent archaeological finds in Turkey. In Antalya Province, researchers recently uncovered remains of a Christian bishop’s bathhouse in Olympus, an ancient Lycian port city. Earlier this year, an ancient Roman bathhouse was found after a gardener discovered a mosaic in another part of Turkey.

The newly discovered wine production center provides insight into ancient winemaking techniques and daily life during the late Roman period in southeastern Turkey. Archaeologists hope further study will reveal more about how wine was produced and distributed in this region nearly two millennia ago.