Incredible discovery in the tomb of the first ruler. They are 5 thousand years old

Archaeologists conducting excavations at the tomb of Meritneit in the ancient city of Abydos made a surprising discovery. Together with the ancient ruler, massive quantities of wine were buried. In hundreds of large jars, there are remnants of a beverage that is five thousand years old.

Archaeologists from Austria and Germany, led by Christiany Köhler from the University of Vienna have recently been conducting research on the tomb of one of the most influential women from the time of the first dynasty of Egyptian pharaohs.

The mysterious Meritneit was likely the first woman Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. This is indicated by the fact that she is the only known female representative to have her own tomb in the royal necropolis, located in the ancient city of Abydos.

As announced in an official statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, during the excavations, researchers came across "huge amounts of grave equipment", including hundreds of wine jugs.

Some jars were very well preserved, and even still closed in their original state - scientists reported.

There were still remnants of grape seeds found in some jars. Organic residues found in the vessels were interpreted by scientists to be wine remnants from 5,000 years ago.

For researchers, this discovery is a breakthrough. The artifacts may provide new information about Old Kingdom winemaking practices and early wine history in the region. The findings may also give Egyptologists a new insight into the life of the enigmatic Merneith.

The discovery of sealed, undisturbed wine jars in Abydos, along with well-preserved grape seeds, could significantly expand our knowledge about the earliest wine production, its use, and trade in the ancient Mediterranean and North Africa region - said Emlyn Dodd, a lecturer at the Institute of Classical Studies, who was not involved in the research to "Newsweek".