The two vine branches with great bunches of grapes sculpted in this door lintel are a reminder of the vineyards that flourished in the Hauran region during the Roman period. The mineral-rich soil of this region, formed by disintegrating basalt, is especially well suited to vine growing. The region had two other assets that were necessary for viticulture: the forest had been cleared by this time and the mountains would have been terraced. In the houses of Hauran villages, archaeologists have found great quantities of grape seeds and underground cellars full of large storage jars. The courtyards contained screw operated winepresses, surrounded by settling tanks. The wine production of southern Syria was well-known in the rest of the Empire and exported there.