A team led by Scott Gallimore of Wilfrid Laurier University and Martin Wells of Austin College discovered a 1,600-year-old Roman-era wine shop in the ancient city of Sicyon in southern Greece, which was probably destroyed by a sudden event such as an earthquake or building. collapse. The find includes broken vessels and a collection of 60 coins scattered on the ground, offering a glimpse into the ancient institution’s final moments.

Located in the ancient city of Sikyon (Sikion) on the northern coast of the Peloponnese in southern Greece, the wine shop operated during the time when the Roman Empire dominated the region. According to LiveScience, during the examination of the wine shop, experts found not only coins, but also marble countertops and various vessels made of bronze, glass and ceramics. The archaeological monument reveals a complex with a wine stall in its northern part. The larger complex included a number of workshops equipped with ovens and presses for grapes or olives.

Despite the large number of artifacts, the researchers expressed the difficulty of identifying the specific types of wine sold at the establishment in an email interview with LiveScience.

“Unfortunately, we have no direct evidence of what type of wines were sold. We do have some evidence of grape (Vitis vinifera) seeds, but we cannot say anything more specific at this time.” Gallimore told Live Science in an email.

In addition to wine, other products such as olive oil can also be sold in the store. According to Scott Gallimore, most of the discovered coins date back to World War II, which lasted from 337 to 361. It belongs to the period of Constantius. The last coin in the collection was minted between 355 and 361.

The scattered location of these coins in the workshop suggests that they were stored together, perhaps in a ceramic container or bag of some kind. A catastrophic event led to the abandonment of the wine warehouse, causing the container to fall and scattering coins, leaving the business in ruins.

Gallimore said the collapse may have been caused by an earthquake or a possible roof collapse caused by environmental factors such as excessive rainfall. The larger complex, which included the shop, appears to have been abandoned in the early fifth century, probably around the time of the devastating event.