Pollen and non-pollen palynomorphs found in two zoomorphic Kura-Araxes vessels (ca. 3000 BCE) from Aradetis Orgora suggest they were utilized for the ritual consumption of wine and likely represent the beginning of the enduring tradition of animal-shaped wine-drinking containers in Georgia. This hypothesis is supported by archaeological and geoarchaeological data: the vessels resemble later wine-containing vessels from Georgia and elsewhere and were found in a building whose context is suggestive of a small shrine. Their palynological spectra match those of present-day wine and wine containers of other periods. One of the vessels was intact, with only a small access hole, that hindered the contamination of its contents; consequently, its palynological spectrum can be utilized as a standard for determining the presence of wine in other archaeological vessels. The analysis of pollen and non-pollen palynomorphs from different contexts at the Aradetis Orgora settlement and from its cemetery (Doghlauri) yielded other significant results regarding the practice of viticulture and the cultural relevance of wine during the Kura-Araxes period.

Palynological and Archaeological Evidence for Ritual Use of Wine in the Kura-Araxes Period at Aradetis Orgora (Georgia, Caucasus)

BOSCHIAN, Giovanni;Katia Gavagnin;Elena Rova
Writing – Review & Editing
2019-01-01

Abstract

Pollen and non-pollen palynomorphs found in two zoomorphic Kura-Araxes vessels (ca. 3000 BCE) from Aradetis Orgora suggest they were utilized for the ritual consumption of wine and likely represent the beginning of the enduring tradition of animal-shaped wine-drinking containers in Georgia. This hypothesis is supported by archaeological and geoarchaeological data: the vessels resemble later wine-containing vessels from Georgia and elsewhere and were found in a building whose context is suggestive of a small shrine. Their palynological spectra match those of present-day wine and wine containers of other periods. One of the vessels was intact, with only a small access hole, that hindered the contamination of its contents; consequently, its palynological spectrum can be utilized as a standard for determining the presence of wine in other archaeological vessels. The analysis of pollen and non-pollen palynomorphs from different contexts at the Aradetis Orgora settlement and from its cemetery (Doghlauri) yielded other significant results regarding the practice of viticulture and the cultural relevance of wine during the Kura-Araxes period.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10278/3709837
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