BIBLE HISTORY DAILY

Canaanite Folk Worship at Megiddo

Ram-shaped vessel and ancient winepress found at Armageddon

The assemblage of ritual objects discovered in the excavation. Courtesy Katerina Katzan, IAA

Conducting salvage excavations at the ancient site of Megiddo—famously known as Armageddon in the New Testament’s Book of Revelation—archaeologists with the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) uncovered fascinating new evidence of Canaanite folk worship, as well as some of the earliest evidence of wine making in the region.

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Canaanite Worship at Armageddon

While excavating along a nearly mile-long stretch of highway next to the site, archaeologists were surprised to discover a favissa (ritual burial pit) dating to the end of the Late Bronze Age (c. 3,300 years ago). Included in the favissa were many standard pottery vessels as well as a number of special cultic items. According to an IAA press release, the favissa was located outside the walls of the ancient city, but in clear sight of the large Bronze Age temple. Nearby was a large rock outcrop, which may have served as a sort of open-air altar. This may indicate that those making the offerings were not allowed to enter the temple precinct itself and thus had to find a different way (and place) to worship their gods.

Temple model discovered in the excavation. Courtesy Katerina Katzan, IAA.

The pottery uncovered in the favissa included a model shrine, storage jars, jugs, and juglets imported from Cyprus, and a unique set of libation vessels that included a ram-shaped zoomorphic vessel. “A small bowl, which was attached to the ram’s body, was designed to function as a funnel; and a similar bowl—with a handle—was probably held to pour the liquid into the funnel during a ceremony,” the researchers explained. “Once the vessel was filled, tilting the ram forward spilled the liquid out from its mouth to collect it into a small bowl placed before it.” The vessel, they believe, was likely used to pour a valuable liquid, such as milk, oil, or wine, which was then either drunk directly from the spout or poured into a smaller vessel. Such libation vessels are seldom found intact, offering researchers a rare glimpse into how they functioned in antiquity.

One of the oldest winemaking presses in the world, discovered in an excavation. Courtesy Yakov Shmidov, IAA.

In addition to the favissa, the team also uncovered a small, rock-cut winepress dating to the Early Bronze Age, approximately 5,000 years ago. The winepress featured a sloped treading floor and a collection vat. According to excavation directors Amir Golani and Barak Tzin, “This winepress is unique, one of very few known from such an ancient period when urbanization first took place in our region. Until now, indirect evidence indicated that wine could have been produced 5,000 years ago, but we did not have conclusive proof of this—a ‘smoking gun’ that would clearly show when this happened in our area.” Many residential buildings were also uncovered near the winepress—evidence of both the expansion of Bronze Age Megiddo and the importance of the winepress to the community.

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