Researchers Confirm Wine Consumption in Ancient Troy

Researchers from the universities of Tubingen, Bonn, and Jena have found chemical evidence confirming wine consumption in ancient Troy.

The findings, published in the April edition of the American Journal of Archaeology, support a theory proposed by Heinrich Schliemann in the 19th century when he discovered the fortified city. The study reveals that wine was not just for the elite but was also consumed by the general population.

The research focused on depas, ceramic cups with two handles and a narrow base, ranging from 12 to 40 centimeters in height and holding between 0.25 and 1 liter of liquid.

These vessels, known to archaeologists for decades, have been found in large numbers in Troy, dating from 2500 to 2000 B.C., and in other regions of the Aegean, Asia Minor, and Mesopotamia. In the Iliad, such cups are mentioned in festive rituals among gods, leading Schliemann to believe they were similarly used by humans.

One depas, along with two fragments, is part of the classical archaeology collection at the University of Tubingen. For the analysis, Maxime Rageot from the University of Bonn took a 2-gram sample from the fragments and heated it to 380 degrees Celsius. He then used gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to identify the compounds present. The analysis detected succinic and pyruvic acids, indicators of grape juice fermentation. According to Rageot, these compounds appear only when grape juice turns into wine, confirming the original content was fermented wine, not just juice.

Previously, it was thought these cups, found in palaces and temples, were used only in significant ceremonies and by the powerful. However, the team also analyzed vessels found outside the citadel, where people of lower social status lived. These common-use containers also contained chemical traces of wine, indicating that wine was part of the daily diet for the general population. Excavations in Troy, located in present-day Hisarlık, Turkey, were led by the University of Tubingen from 1987 to 2012. The recovered material continues to be analyzed in various laboratories. According to Karla Pollmann, president of the university, this discovery adds to the understanding of daily life in the city that inspired Homeric tales.