Overview
- Israel Antiquities Authority excavations east of Tel Megiddo uncovered a rock‑hewn winepress dated to the Early Bronze I period, one of the oldest identified in Israel.
- The excavation directors said the installation offers the first direct proof of local wine production 5,000 years ago, with nearby homes indicating the settlement extended well beyond the tell.
- Late Bronze Age II ritual deposits included a miniature shrine and an intact ram‑shaped libation vessel, which researchers interpret as evidence of a Canaanite folk cult operating outside the city temple.
- The work formed part of a 1.2‑kilometer salvage excavation along the Highway 66 upgrade, conducted by the IAA in coordination with the Ministry of Transportation and financed by Netivei Yisrael.
- The IAA showcased the discoveries at its annual conference on Thursday, and guided tours featuring the artifacts begin at the Schottenstein National Campus in Jerusalem starting Monday.