Archaeologists in the Israeli town of Gedera have discovered a third century A.D. pottery workshop, which produced ceramic vessels for the storage and transportation of wine.
The discovery comes as part of a large-scale archaeological dig taking place on the site, which is being overseen by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), reports the Times of Israel.
Evidence at the site suggests that the workshop was used for the production of “Gaza” or “Ashkelon” jars — large ceramic containers used to store wine during that period. The remains of around 100,000 broken or flawed jars were also discovered.
Archaeologists have suggested that the workshop was operational for around 600 years, spanning the later Roman to early Byzantine periods. In an IAA press release, co-directors Nagorsky and Tamar Harpak said, “The continuous industry could point to a family workshop, which was passed from generation to generation.”
Many of the workshop’s jars would have been filled with local wine, and then shipped from nearby ports to faraway lands including Alexandria, Constantinople, and even Rome.
Also uncovered were apparent perks for pottery workers, including a games room, and an expansive 20-bath hot and cold spa where employees could wash off after a hot day in the workshop. Google, eat your heart out!
