Ancient Canaanite ritual artifacts and a 5,000-year-old winepress have been discovered at Tel Megiddo in Israel, a site historically known as Armageddon in the Book of Revelation. The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced the find near Tel Megiddo on November 5, revealing significant insights into the region’s ancient past. The excavation, conducted alongside the construction of Highway 66 in the Jezreel Valley, uncovered a range of items spanning from the Early Bronze Age to the Late Bronze Age.
The standout discovery was a rock-carved winepress, described as the oldest ever found in Israel. This artifact provides conclusive evidence of early wine production in the region, confirming long-standing theories about ancient agricultural practices. Alongside the winepress, archaeologists found evidence of a Canaanite folk cult dating back 3,300 years. This included a ceramic model of a shrine and animal-shaped ritual vessels, which were carefully placed in the ground as ritual offerings.
The findings suggest that these offerings were made by local farmers who could not enter the main temple, allowing them to perform religious consecrations outside the city. The burial locations near a large rock outcrop indicate the presence of an open-air altar, possibly used for libations or the ceremonial pouring of liquids such as milk, oil, or wine. The IAA highlighted that these discoveries provide a layered understanding of the region’s history and the daily lives of its inhabitants.
Additionally, the excavation revealed a new part of the settlement matrix at Tel Megiddo, offering insights into the interactions between different cultures in the area. Earlier this year, archaeologists also uncovered evidence of a biblical battle at the site, suggesting the presence of an Egyptian army possibly following the collapse of the Assyrian Empire. These continuous discoveries continue to shed light on the rich and complex history of the region.