My PhD Project

Project aims to unite the artefactual and biological evidence for prehistoric wine and beer production and consumption by examining the DNA present in ancient wine vessels and archaeobotanical remains that have been recovered from archaeological sites. Using DNA data from artifacts from multiple archaeological sites, this project will directly test the entrenched hypothesis that grape domestication is associated with viniculture. The data will further allow the detection of long-term cultivation of varieties, the types of grapes which were incorporated into Roman wines, and whether other plant species were used to preserve or flavour medieval wines.