--- title: "Discovery in France Reveals Ancient Roman Ritual with Wine and Beer for the Dead" description: "At a 1,700-year-old site, a team of archaeologists unearthed an ancient funerary site revealing a previously unknown and deeply symbolic practice of pouring alcoholic beverages such as wine and beer over the dead." url: https://www.thebeertimes.com/en/discovery-france-roman-ritual-wine-beer-dead/ date: 2025-11-07 modified: 2026-07-02 author: "Carlos Uhart M." image: https://www.thebeertimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Sitio-funerario-romano.jpg categories: ["History"] tags: ["Beer", "Funeral Rites", "History", "Romans", "Wine"] type: post lang: en --- # Discovery in France Reveals Ancient Roman Ritual with Wine and Beer for the Dead A recent archaeological discovery in France has shed new light on the complex and varied funerary rites of ancient Rome. ![Roman funerary site](https://www.thebeertimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Sitio-funerario-romano.jpg)*Roman funerary site* At a 1,700-year-old site, a team of archaeologists unearthed an ancient funerary site revealing a previously unknown and deeply symbolic practice of pouring alcoholic beverages such as wine and beer directly onto the dead. ## A funerary complex in ancient Olbia The discovery took place in a Roman necropolis located in the ancient city of Olbia, in France. Experts have been struck not only by the large number of tombs, but also by the symbolic richness and technical sophistication of the gestures accompanying the transition to death between the 1st and 3rd centuries AD. The most distinctive feature of the find is evidence of funerary libations — the act of pouring sacred liquids. Tombs were found with tubular channels extending from the surface down to the bones of the deceased. - These channels were specifically designed to allow the living to pour liquids such as wine, beer, and other beverages and foods so that they would reach directly to the body or remains of the deceased. - These fluids acted as liquid offerings — a gesture to nourish the deceased on their journey to the underworld or to ensure their well-being in the afterlife. Alcohol in particular was considered an essential component of these rituals. The French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP) stated in a press release: > These findings remind us that ancient funerary rites were rich, varied and imbued with multiple meanings, some of which remain a mystery even today. ## Wine, beer and the connection between worlds The use of wine and other beverages in Roman funerary rites was common and formed part of ritual banquets. During festivals such as the *Parentalia*, family members would gather in cemeteries to offer food and share wine and cakes with their ancestors. The wealthiest tombs were often built like “houses” with a decorated room for these banquets. The discovery at Olbia, however, adds a layer of complexity through the direct channels, which demonstrate a sustained effort to share drink with the deceased in an intimate and direct way. - Experts believe that the presence of these elaborate libation systems in some tombs and not others may reflect clear social, cultural, or economic distinctions among the deceased. - Wine libations were not merely a sacrifice at more modest funerals; they intensified during commemorative visits. A small cup was sometimes placed near the entrance of the tubular channel, suggesting that families continued to make offerings in honor of their loved ones. This practice underscores the Roman belief that the world of the dead was not completely separate from the world of the living, and that feeding the ancestors was crucial so that they could help the family in this world. ## Frequently asked questions (FAQ) ### What was a funerary libation and why was it so important? A libation is a ritual act of pouring a liquid as an offering to a deity or in honor of a deceased person. In ancient Rome, funerary libations were fundamental. They were a way of honoring and appeasing the spirit of the dead (*Manes*) and of maintaining a bond between the living and their ancestors. Wine, water, milk, or oil were the most common liquids, and it was believed that by “giving drink” to the deceased, one helped them in their passage and ensured their benevolence toward the family. ### Did the Romans prefer beer or wine? Wine (*vinum*) was the quintessential drink in the Roman world, associated with culture, social status, and the beverage of the elite. It was the drink most commonly used in rituals and celebrations. However, beer (*cervisia* or *cervesia*) was known and consumed especially in the northern and western provinces, such as Gaul (modern-day France) and Britannia. It was often considered a drink of the lower classes or “barbarian” peoples. The fact that beer appears in these funerary offerings in France reinforces the idea that Roman customs and local traditions blended in the provinces. ## Recommended - [Heineken Opens $462 Million Mega-Brewery in Brazil](https://www.thebeertimes.com/heineken-inaugura-megaplanta-de-cerveza-brasil/) - [The History of Beer Refrigeration and Carl von Linde’s Enduring Legacy](https://www.thebeertimes.com/la-historia-de-la-refrigeracion-cervecera-y-el-legado-de-carl-von-linde/)