Archaeologists on the Greek island of Naxos have identified the remains of an Archaic-period sanctuary dedicated to a local agricultural deity. The site contains a primitive stone press surrounded by votive offerings of miniature ceramic olive jars, indicating it was the site of the 'Festival of the First Press', a precursor to later Dionysian harvest rites.
Soil samples taken from the sanctuary floors revealed high concentrations of sacred oil and aromatic resins, suggesting that the initial pressing of the harvest was a highly ritualized event involving dancing and the anointing of cult statues. The discovery underscores the sacred nature of olive cultivation in early Greek communal life.