If you ask someone when the refrigerator was invented, their mind may instantly jump to Victorian-era iceboxes or the advent of 20th-century home fridges. But a team of archaeologists from the University of Warsaw has uncovered striking evidence that soldiers of the Roman Empire in the 3rd century enjoyed their wine cold—and had a rather ingenious way of chilling it.
The team from the Center for Research on the Antiquities of Southeastern Europe has been excavating the ancient city of Novae in present-day Bulgaria, where the Roman Empire’s 8th Augustan Legion was stationed on the banks of the Danube River from 45 to 432 C.E.. They recently uncovered a treasure trove of artifacts that reveal insights into the lifestyle of Roman citizens on the outskirts of the empire. One of the most interesting of these is what has been identified as an ancient refrigerator, with wine vessels inside.
How Did Ancient Fridges Work?
During their research, archaeologists discovered the earliest known well in Novae, which it turns out did not just supply legionaries with water, but was also used as a means for cooling food and wine. A system of aqueducts with ceramic and lead pipes was attached to the well and controlled the water flow throughout the military fortress.
“Along the lead water pipeline, a container made of ceramic plates was placed in the ground in such a way that the pipe ran along its longer side,” explained Professor Piotr Dyczek, the project’s lead researcher, in a statement. “We recognized this to be an antique refrigerator. Inside there were fragments of wine drinking vessels, bowls and animal bones.”
While the use of lead to transport drinking water may not have been the Romans’ best idea, their use of irrigation systems as a means of cooling and preserving food and wine is certainly ingenious for the era. Additionally, the fact that these refrigerators were found at a legionary base far removed from Rome itself suggests these early wine fridges may have been quite common by the 3rd century.
What Did Roman Soldiers Serve Wine In?
On this same excavation, the researchers found a 4th-century ceramic container with a set of unique serving and cookware devices. Included in this set were quite a few different jugs for wine drinking, all with distinctive black surfaces and inlaid with small comb designs. Vessels this well-preserved are rare on the Danube, and according to Dyczek’s statement, details like the designs will help the team more precisely date many of the artifacts uncovered in this most recent excavation.
While Dyczek’s team is still analyzing their findings to better understand life at Novae, one thing is already quite clear: The 8th Augustan legion had their fair share of chilled wine, and drank it too.
