U. archaeologist finds oldest wine

College students across America agree -- drinking is a social norm at any campus scene. But was is also the norm 7,000 years ago? According to Patrick E. McGovern, an archaeologist at the University of Pennsylvania Museum, it was. On June 6, a group of scientists, led by McGovern announced the earliest evidence of wine-making in the world. The discovery was made by examining a stain left on a ceramic piece excavated in present-day Iran. The piece of pottery is believed to belong to a slim-necked, nine-inch vessel, buried in the kitchen of a mud-brick house. "The vessel was discovered in 1968 by Mary Voigt, professor of Anthropology at The College of William and Mary," McGovern explained. "It was analyzed for evidence of milk in 1975, producing negative results. Not until five years ago did scientists begin examining the stain for traces of alcohol." McGovern found that it was tartaric acid, a sure sign of wine, that left the stain on the vessel. The stain also contained evidence of tree resin, which was used to preserve the wine and kill vinegar-forming bacteria. Even though the substance is believed to be wine, it would not meet the sophisticated tastes of modern-day connoisseures, since the preservative added a bitter flavor to the drink. The experiment began in December of 1994. "We knew within a month that it was wine," said McGovern. "The rest of the time was dedicated to analysis of pine resin left in the stain in order to confirm that it was used as a preservative." McGovern, who is also a chemist, used infrared, spectrometry, and liquid chromatography tests to analyze the sample. To date the piece of pottery, scientists used bits of charcoal from the same layer uncovered in Iran. The radio carbon dating proves that the vessel was made in 5, 400 B.C. This pushes the known evidence of wine-making by 2,000 years, to Neolithic period of the late Stone Age. "The making of wine came soon after the invention of pottery," he said. "Because the air-tight vessels could be used to preserve the wine from turning into vinegar." McGovern, who has explored the evidence of ancient beer-making in Scandinavia, as well as the wine-making in the Middle East, says that alcohol played an important role in ancient cultures.