2,000-year-old grapevines in Ethiopia may preserve an ancient farming legacy
A lost chapter in the history of Ethiopia agriculture The vine that attracted scientists' attention Researchers estimated that the wider region may still host between
A lost chapter in the history of Ethiopia agriculture The vine that attracted scientists' attention Researchers estimated that the wider region may still host between 1,000 and 1,500 traditional grapevines DNA shows roots of ancient Mediterranean A living link to ancient trade routes The findings suggest that these isolated vines might be the last remnant of a once thriving tradition of grape-growing Why these ancient vines matter today Picture yourself wandering through a tranquil village in the northern Ethiopian highlands, a gnarled grapevine sheltering from the afternoon sun over a stone courtyard. It is a familiar part of daily life for local families, a source of sweet fruit, a place to gather, and a plant passed down through generations. But what if that humble vine is a lot more than a family heirloom? What if it is a living survivor of one of Africa’s greatest ancient civilisations?But a new interdisciplinary study suggests that this extraordinary possibility is real. According to a report by Phys Org, scientists studying traditional grapevines in Ethiopia’s Tigray region have discovered evidence that some of the surviving vines could be descendants of the Aksumite Kingdom, a powerful civilization that thrived between 150 BCE and 800 CE.
Aksum was a bustling centre of trade, culture and innovation, connected to busy Red Sea trade routes linking Africa with the Mediterranean and Near East. Now, nearly 2,000 years later, its agricultural legacy may linger still in the vines that quietly grow beside homes and churches.For the uninitiated, Ethiopia is renowned as one of the world's earliest agricultural centers and the origin of important crops such as teff, chickpeas and lentils.But grapes are rarely seen as part of the country’s agricultural heritage. Archaeological findings tell a different story. Archaeological excavations at ancient Aksum have uncovered grape seeds, wine vessels, rock-cut wine presses, and historical evidence of the cultivation of grapes centuries ago. Intrigued by these findings, an international team of geographers, agronomists and archaeologists set out to discover whether any of our modern grapevines might descend from those ancient introductions.The vineyards are sprawling in Europe; in Tigray the grapevines are woven into everyday village life. They are grown in home compounds, church grounds and small gardens, not commercial vineyards. Families eat the grapes fresh, give bunches to neighbors, donate harvests to Orthodox churches, and treasure the vines for the cool shade they provide during Ethiopia’s dry season.
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