A bronze object from late antiquity used to filter beverages has been discovered at the ancient city of Hadrianopolis in northern Turkey’s Black Sea Region. The filter was discovered in the 2024 excavation season in a layer that dates to the 5th century A.D.
The filter is 3.2 inches long, a slim conical shape and is covered with small perforations along its length. It has a suspension loop at the top, indicating it was a valued possession worn on the body for use on the fly, and wear and tear patterns show that it saw a lot of use.
It was used in conjunction with a long straw made from the hollow stalk of a plant like a reed or cane. The filter would be attached to the end of the straw inside the beverage. The and draw the liquid through the cone’s perforations. Beverages were often communally shared between several people. Large bowls would be placed in the middle of the group and they would use natural straws like reeds and canes that could be up to three feet long to quench their thirst.
There was a great deal of agricultural activity in 5th century Hadrianopolis. Archaeologists have found evidence of cultivation of pears, apples, pomegranates, grapes, barley, wheat and bitter vetch. A wide variety of beverages — juice, wine, other fermented drinks — were produced from these ingredients, and they could be pulpy, seedy, sludgy or gritty.
The discovery of such utensils confirms that the inhabitants of Hadrianopolis not only had access to a wide variety of agricultural products but also developed technologies that allowed them to enjoy these in a more sophisticated and healthier manner, [Karabük University Archaeology professor] Dr. Çelikbaş emphasized.
Frankly, I was utterly unconvinced. In lack of a better explanation, however, it won’t at least –I am led to believe– *explode*, like apparently ‘paper’ drinking straws would, i.e. according to folks that use them.
Allegedly, there is a fastening ring, and today northern Turkey’s Black Sea Region is famous for its BLACK TEA(!) beverages, but maybe rather not already in the 5th century.
Whatever the mysterious beverage may have been, I hope that any residue will be thoroughly analyzed. Would e.g. a ‘filter’ in some sort of ‘swimming pool’ look totally different? 🤔️
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PS: I checked on some of the platforms, and apparently Yerba Mate is consumed in a traditional calabash gourd, with a metal ‘bombilla’ straw plus occasional rather similar metal filter.
I wonder if the suspension loop might be used to attach a cord to retrieve the bronze filter from the communal bowl if it became detached. The connection between the filter and the reed would be a somewhat flimsy weak point, only friction. The heavier filter could fall off as the reed became water logged and it would be a faux pas to have to fish around in the communal bowl with your hand to get your filter back.