This replica of a sandstone sculpture of a Roman ship carrying wine barrels on the river Mosel comes from the wine-making village of Neumagen in Germany. It is believed to have marked the tomb of a Roman wine merchant circa 220 A.D. About two thousand years ago, the Romans founded Neumagen (Noviomagus Trevirorum). In the 2nd century they introduced viticulture to the Moselle valley, planting vineyards in order to provide a local source of wine for their garrisons as its transportation from Italy or Gaul was impractical and expensive.