5,000-year-old wine discovered in Egyptian queen’s tomb. It's not liquid anymore

Queen Meret-Neith was the sole woman to lay claim to a monumental tomb within Egypt's inaugural royal cemetery at Abydos. (Representational)

Sealed jars of wine dating back 5,000 years have emerged from the depths of Queen Meret-Neith's tomb, believed to be that of Egypt's first female pharaoh. The discovery, made by a team of German and Austrian archaeologists, led by the University of Vienna's illustrious archaeologist, Christiana Köhler, has shed new light on the enigma of Queen Meret-Neith.

"The wine was no longer liquid, and we can't tell if it was red or white," Köhler stated last week. "We found a lot of organic residue, grape seeds, and crystals, possibly tartar, and all of this is currently being scientifically analysed. It is probably the second oldest direct evidence for wine; the oldest also comes from Abydos."

Queen Meret-Neith, despite her true identity shrouded in mystery, commands a unique presence in the annals of Egypt's history. She was the sole woman to lay claim to a monumental tomb within Egypt's inaugural royal cemetery at Abydos.

A German-Austrian team led by archaeologist Christiana Köhler from the University of Vienna is investigating the tomb of Queen Meret-Neith in Abydos, Egypt.
She was the most powerful woman in the period around 3,000 BC.
Recent excavations uncovered 5,000-year-old wine and other… pic.twitter.com/u8duMVVIu7

— Ticia Verveer (@ticiaverveer) October 10, 2023

"The new excavations bring to light exciting new information about this unique woman and her time," Köhler observed, signifying the historical value of their discovery.

Meret-Neith's tomb complex, ensconced in the desert, consists not only of her burial chamber but also the final resting places of 41 courtiers and servants. The structures were constructed with unbaked mud bricks, clay, and wood, revealing the advanced architectural techniques employed during her time in the 1st Dynasty.