Wine Press Communal

A picture of another wine press at Shivta.  Please note the individual compartments that surround the central, square, stomping area.  These are where individual grape growers would bring their harvest.  Thus, when the grapes were all pressed together, each grower could receive a certain percentage of the wine—based upon the amount of grapes that he/she brought to the press.  Compare the monastic wine press at Shivta that did not need to separate out the harvest before pressing.

Please also note the barren surrounding countryside.  This area only receives 3.5 in. of rain per year.  This picture was taken in July—the middle of the dry season in Israel.

Contrary to previous opinions, the agricultural systems, that fed winepresses such as this, instead of dating to the Nabatean Period, actually were built during the Byzantine Period—beginning in the fifth century AD and continuing in use until the late seventh or early eighth century AD.