A Symbol of Immortality: Evidence of Honey in Bronze Jars Found in a Paestum Shrine Dating to 530–510 BCE

A groundbreaking analysis of 2500-year-old residues from bronze jars found in Paestum's underground shrine reveals the presence of honey or honeycombs, contradicting earlier findings that excluded it. Using advanced biomolecular techniques, researchers detected lipids, saccharide decomposition products, hexose sugars, and major royal jelly proteins, providing robust evidence for bee products. This study underscores the significance of re-evaluating museum collections with cutting-edge methods to uncover hidden historical insights. The findings not only enrich our understanding of ancient practices but also offer a refined approach for identifying bee-derived substances in archaeological contexts.

Carvalho, L. d. C., Pires, E., Domoney, K., Zuchtriegel, G., & McCullagh, J. S. O. (2025). A Symbol of Immortality: Evidence of Honey in Bronze Jars Found in a Paestum Shrine Dating to 530–510 BCE. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 147(33), 29756–29766. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.5c04888