Archaeologists excavating at Turkey’s Bornova district, Turkey, unearthed grape seeds dating back 5,000 years. The excavations took place at Yassıtepe Mound in western Izmir province near a 8,500-year-old mound, Yeşilova Mound.

The seeds are thought to be of the Bornova Muscat grape and, according to Associate Professor Zafer Derin, head of the excavation team, they were found in carbonised form at the bottom of pottery. Researchers hope they will reveal details of life in the area during antiquity. After all it was one of the most prominent centres of grape production in Turkey, along with western provinces of Izmir, Aydin and Manisa.

The excavation was carried out by the Ege University with the support of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Izmir and Bornova municipalities.

Findings from the Neolithic and Bronze Age were displayed in an exhibition at Bornova Municipality’s visitor centre at the Yeşilova Mound.