This tomb had been covered up for millennia, and as a result remained undisturbed by looters.

Recently, scientists published findings on an urn which contained almost five liters of reddish-brown liquid.

Laboratory tests have confirmed it is wine that’s been hermetically sealed for 2,000 years.

Oldest wine ever found in carmona spain

Reddish liquid contained in urn (Photo:Daniel Cosano et al.,CC BY 4.0)

This is now theoldest known liquid wineever found.

The wine wasn’t alone though.

Using mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography, scientists determined the polyphenol and mineral salt composition of the wine.

funeral chamber that housed oldest liquid wine ever found

Funeral chamber. (Photo:Daniel Cosano et al.,CC BY 4.0)

There was an absence of syringic acid, which would be present if the liquid had been red wine.

The current color is likely due to decomposition.

This was likely a family tomb, with three urns holding female remains, and three male remains.

Entrance to tomb where oldest liquid wine ever found in Carmona Spain

Access to the tomb. (Photo:Daniel Cosano et al.,CC BY 4.0)

Not much is known about the family, but the namesHispanaeandSeniciowere engraved on two separate urns.

There has also been wine residue found inside pottery from 8,000 years ago in modern-day Georgia.

Access to the tomb.

Series of images of to,b and artifacts in Carmona Spain where the oldest still liquid wine was found.

Fig. 1. (a), (b) Funeral chamber. (c) Urn in niche 8. (d) Lead case containing the urn. (e) Reddish liquid contained in the urn. (Photo:Daniel Cosano et al.,CC BY 4.0)

(a), (b) Funeral chamber.

(c) Urn in niche 8.

(d) Lead case containing the urn.

(e) Reddish liquid contained in the urn.