Even before the Bolognese: The smelly sauce the Romans ate in the country was revealed

They knew where the Romans lived: in an archeological excavation in an ancient industrial area in Ashkelon, winepresses were made for wine production and rare ancient facilities for making the fish axis, which was popular in Rome but very smelly. Excavator on site: "This is a rare discovery in our area"

Even before the Bolognese: The smelly sauce the Romans ate in the country was revealed

Pools for making fish sauce (garum), known from the eastern Mediterranean basins, have recently been unearthed in the excavations of the Israel Antiquities Authority in Ashkelon. The excavations revealed evidence of the culinary preferences of the Romans and Byzantines who lived here 2000 years ago.

According to Dr. Tali Erickson Guinea of ​​the Antiquities Authority, "Long before the pasta and pizza sauce, the ancient Romans' kitchen was based on a fish axis: historical sources tell of the production of the special fish sauce, which served as a basic spice for Roman and Byzantine cuisine throughout the Mediterranean basin. Numbers say that the stench of preparation made it distribute its production areas to the margins of the communities, and indeed, even in this case, the facilities were found about two kilometers from ancient Ashkelon. "

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Aerial photo of the site in Ashkelon (Photo: Asaf Peretz, Israel Antiquities Authority)

Roman industrial zone exposed in Ashkelon (Photo: Asaf Peretz, Israel Antiquities Authority, Israel Antiquities Authority)

Fish industry facilities found in excavation (Photo: Asaf Peretz, Israel Antiquities Authority)

Fish industry facilities in Roman industrial zone in Ashkelon (Photo: Asaf Peretz, Israel Antiquities Authority, Israel Antiquities Authority)

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"Three winepresses and a magnificent church were built"

According to Erickson-Guinea, "It is a rare discovery in our region. Only a few such facilities are sold in the eastern Mediterranean basin. The script also says that there was a kosher Jewish garum. The exposure of such a facility in Ashkelon indicates that Roman flavor roamed not only in the empire but also in clothing. In the eating habits. "

Over the years the Roman site was abandoned, but the good conditions offered by the region to grow quality grapes for wine remained unchanged, and in the 5th century AD, in the Byzantine period, began to operate a monastery that seemed to make a living from this industry; Three winepresses and a magnificent church were built there. It did not survive, but items from it, such as decorated marble items and impressive mosaic pieces, adorned the site. Not far from the winepresses were also the remains of a huge pottery pottery house, which was used to market the wine. The wine seems to have been marketed for export.

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Wine jars maker in industrial area (Photo: Asaf Peretz, Israel Antiquities Authority)

Wine jars maker in a Roman industrial zone in Ashkelon (Photo: Asaf Peretz, Israel Antiquities Authority, Israel Antiquities Authority)

Marble items from the Byzantine church (Photo: Anat Rasiok, Israel Antiquities Authority)

Marble items from a Byzantine church in a Roman industrial zone in Ashkelon (Photo: Anat Rasiok, Israel Antiquities Authority, Israel Antiquities Authority)

Serious bones and camels were also found

According to Dr. Erickson-Guinea, "The site, which served as an industrial zone for a number of periods, was abandoned again after the Muslim occupation in the 7th century AD, and then nomadic families settled - probably in tents - which dismantled the various parts of the site and sold the ancient parts. As materials for building for money. "Evidence of this activity was found in the collecting pits of winepresses which became garbage pits, including a large amount of large animal bones, such as donkeys and camels.

The excavation, funded by the Ashkelon Economic Society, is underway for the construction of a large eco-sports park with an artificial pool, stadium and other facilities for the benefit of the residents. The excavation was attended by members of Nahal Nahal from Kibbutz Yad Mordechai and students of the comprehensive school in Ashkelon, with the excavation area just behind it.

On Sunday, December 22, the first candle of Chanukah, the Israel Antiquities Authority will open the excavation for a public visit at 16:30 to 12:30. Location of excavation: Behind comprehensive comprehensive school, Ashkelon. Details on Facebook page "Israel Antiquities Authority - Touch the Past".

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Mosaic used for paving the Old Church (Photo: Anat Rasiok, Israel Antiquities Authority)

Mosaic floor of a Byzantine church in a Roman industrial zone in Ashkelon (Photo: Anat Rasiuk, Israel Antiquities Authority)

Wine winepresses from the Byzantine period at the site in Ashkelon (Photo: Asaf Peretz, Israel Antiquities Authority)

Byzantine winepresses in a Roman industrial zone in Ashkelon (Photo: Anat Rasiok, Israel Antiquities Authority, Israel Antiquities Authority)

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The works in the Ashkelon excavation (Photo: Anat Rasiuk, Israel Antiquities Authority)

Roman industrial zone exposed in Ashkelon (Photo: Anat Rasiok, Israel Antiquities Authority, Israel Antiquities Authority)