THE SECRET OF THE HISTORY OF VITICULTURE IS A HANDFUL OF SEEDS, PERFECTLY CONSERVED, FOUND IN A WELL DATING FIRST CENTURY A.C. IN THE TERRITORY OF BADIA A COLTIBUONO, BY FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY ARCHAEOLOGIST, NANCY DE GRUMMOND

The discovery: perfectly preserved 2 thousand year old grape seeds found in a well dating from the Roman period (first century A.C.) in Cetamura, on the lands of Badia a Coltibuono in the historic Chianti territory, which could lead to new discoveries about viticulture and the history of landscape in the heart of Tuscany. How is this possible? “Scientists have the real possibility of identifying DNA and can tell us quite a lot about viticulture and the grape varieties of the period, and also about the consumption of grapes in the Roman period”, explained Nancy de Grummond, archaeologist at Florida State University and Director of the archaeological excavations.