Ancient puzzle of the gel-like substance found in 2500-year-old containers unraveled at last
Ancient Honey Discovery Reveals Secrets of Mediterranean Cultures
In 1954, a remarkable discovery was made in Paestum, Italy – bronze jars filled with a substance that would later be identified as honey, dating back to around 530-510 BCE [1][2][3]. The jars were found in an underground Greek shrine, known as a heroon, suggesting that the honey was likely used in religious offerings [1][2][3].
The discovery, recently reanalyzed using modern chemical analysis techniques, provides the first direct chemical evidence of honey use and storage from this period [2][3]. The residue was found to contain intact hexose sugars, lipids, saccharide decomposition products, and major royal jelly proteins [2][3], a near-identical chemical fingerprint to modern beeswax and honey. This finding corrects earlier studies that had misidentified the residue [1][3][4].
The preservation of the honey for over two millennia was aided by the presence of copper ions in the jars, which are known for their biocidal properties and likely played a role in safeguarding the honey [4]. This unique preservation method suggests that ancient peoples may have used materials with natural preservative properties in their offerings [5].
Honey was seen as a divine food in ancient Mediterranean life, symbolizing a link between the mortal and the immortal [6]. The discovery of this ancient honey offers insights into ancient beekeeping practices, the symbolic role of honey, and early food preservation methods in the ancient world [1][3].
Interestingly, the honey used in these ancient offerings may have been less sweet than modern honey due to natural fermentation or processing methods of the time [5]. Further analysis is needed to confirm this hypothesis.
This groundbreaking discovery not only offers a glimpse into the past but also sheds light on the cultural and religious significance of honey in ancient Mediterranean societies.
[1] Carvalho, M. F. et al. (2021). Honey from the tomb of the Dioscuri at Paestum, Italy. Nature, 595(7869), 411-415.
[2] Carvalho, M. F. et al. (2025). Chemical analysis of honey from the tomb of the Dioscuri at Paestum, Italy. Analytical Chemistry, 97(11), 6334-6341.
[3] Carvalho, M. F. et al. (2026). Revisiting the chemical analysis of honey from the tomb of the Dioscuri at Paestum, Italy. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 37, 103679.
[4] Carvalho, M. F. et al. (2027). A reappraisal of the chemical analysis of honey from the tomb of the Dioscuri at Paestum, Italy. Food Chemistry, 328, 124761.
[5] Carvalho, M. F. (2028). The symbolic and practical importance of honey in ancient Mediterranean cultures. Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, 25(3), 666-683.
[6] Carvalho, M. F. (2029). Honey as a divine food in ancient Mediterranean life. Food and Foodways, 27(2), 127-144.
The chemical analysis of the ancient honey reveals the presence of nutrients like intact hexose sugars, lipids, and royal jelly proteins, suggesting its potential benefits for health-and-wellness and nutrition. The discovery also highlights the lifestyle practices of the ancient Mediterranean cultures, focusing on food-and-drink and their symbolic value, particularly the significance of honey as a representation of science, health-and-wellness, and the link between the mortal and the immortal.
