Chemical evidence for wine production around 4000 BCE in the Late Chalcolithic Near Eastern highlands

摘要: Archaeological excavations in the Areni-1 cave complex southeastern Armenia revealed installations and artifacts dating to around 4000 cal. BCE that are strongly indicative of wine production. Chemical evidence for this hypothesis is presented here using a new method detect anthocyanin malvidin gives grapes pomegranates their red color. Using solid phase extraction (SPE) alkaline treatment samples, followed by combined liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), was applied authentic standards four ancient potsherds from Syria. A positive result observed two samples complex, adding supporting produced Near Eastern highlands Late Chalcolithic Period.