Archaeologists have made significant discoveries at Tel Megiddo, the biblical site known as Armageddon, uncovering a 5,000-year-old winepress and ritual artifacts from the Canaanites. The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced the discovery near Tel Megiddo on November 5, revealing a wealth of ancient artifacts dating back to the Early Bronze Age around 3000 B.C., up to the Late Bronze Age, approximately 1270 B.C.
Among the most significant finds was the rock-carved winepress, described by officials as the oldest ever discovered in Israel. This artifact provides new and conclusive evidence of early wine production in the region, a practice previously only inferred through indirect means. The winepress, located alongside a partially unearthed settlement that once held more than 3,000 residents, represents a crucial insight into the economic activity and cultural practices of the area during its early urbanization.
Additional findings included evidence of an ancient Canaanite folk cult dating back approximately 3,300 years. These artifacts, preserved in an orderly manner, include a ceramic model of a shrine, animal-shaped ritual vessels, and pottery from Cyprus. These items, carefully placed in the ground, suggest a ritualistic function, likely involving the ceremonial pouring of liquids such as milk, oil, or wine into a funnel during religious rites.
The burial locations suggest that this folk cult operated outside the city, possibly involving local farmers who could not enter the city’s main temple. This indicates a form of religious observance separate from the formal religious structures, allowing individuals to offer consecrations of liquids or agricultural produce at an open-air altar near a large rock outcrop. Researchers believe these findings represent a continuation of ritual practices that predate the establishment of a central religious complex within the city.
The excavation, which took place during the construction of Highway 66 in the Jezreel Valley, has revealed new insights into the complex history of Tel Megiddo, a site famously referenced in the Book of Revelation as ‘Mount of Megiddo.’ The IAA director, Eli Escusido, remarked on the significance of these findings, emphasizing the importance of uncovering the wealth of history embedded in the region’s soil. He noted that the exposure of ancient wine-making facilities and evidence of folk worship outside of Megiddo allows for a deeper understanding of the daily life and beliefs of the region’s inhabitants over thousands of years.
This discovery is not the only recent finding at the site. Earlier this year, archaeologists announced the discovery of evidence suggesting a biblical battle may have occurred at Tel Megiddo. Archaeologist Assaf Kleiman noted that pottery found at the site indicates the presence of an Egyptian army, particularly those that defeated King Josiah. The presence of Egyptian vessels, including serving bowls, cooking pots, and storage jars, suggests that these soldiers may have settled at Megiddo following the collapse of the Assyrian Empire in the late 7th century.