World’s oldest winepress found in Armenia

Generally accepted biblical timelines put the Flood of Noah at around 2300 B.C. The Bible then tells us in Gen. 9:20-21 that after the Flood “Noah began farming and planted a vineyard and drank of the wine.” Recently, excavations in southern Armenia revealed the oldest wine press yet discovered. It is estimated to date to around 4000 B.C. Southern Armenia lies in the mountain range known as the Ararat Mountains. Just SW across the border into neighboring Turkey lies Mt. Ararat. The Bible tells us that after the floodwaters receded, the Noah’s ark came to rest in these mountains of Ararat, not on Mt. Ararat itself as some believe. Now, I am not suggesting that these archaeologists have found Noah’s vineyard. For one thing, the dates are off a bit (if they are accurate to begin with). I simply want to remind the reaader that the Bible is not a storybook of fables. It contains the real history of actual people living their lives in the real world. The discoverers said that wine-making goes back very far in this area. UCLA researcher Gregory Areshian said, “We also know that still, in the villages in the vicinity, the culture of wine is very old and traditional.” Perhaps they trace their roots all the way back to Noah and his family. Bible history is alive even today and is constantly being supported by archaeological discovery.

Fox, Maggie. “At 6,000 years old, wine press is oldest found yet.” Reuters 1/11/11

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70A0XS20110111