2,500-year-old honey discovered in Pompeii could still be consumed

An archaeological discovery surprised the scientific community: 2,500-year-old honey remains were confirmed in jars found in Paestum, near Pompeii. Incredibly, the analysis revealed that, in theory, the honey could still be consumed.

The research was led by the University of Oxford, which applied chemical archaeology techniques to identify the honey's biomarkers.

How was the honey preserved for 2,500 years?

The jars had been discovered in 1954, but for decades experts thought they contained animal or vegetable fat. The use of mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy made it possible to confirm that it was honey.

The surprising aspect was the way it was preserved. The copper ions released from the bronze walls acted as protective agents, slowing the decomposition of the organic compounds. According to Dr. Luciana da Costa Carvalho, it was as if the jars had functioned as "involuntary preservers."

The cultural value of honey in Ancient Greece

Beyond the scientific fact, the discovery has a strong symbolic value. In ancient Greece, honey was food, medicine, and a ritual offering. It was associated with the immortality of the gods and was present in funerary and religious ceremonies.

The preservation of this product in ritual contexts confirms its cultural importance. For the Greeks, it was a divine gift, and now archaeologists have material evidence of that connection.

A discovery that opens new research

The discovery was part of a collaboration between Oxford, the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, and the Ashmolean Museum. The reevaluation of the jars even coincided with the Last Supper in Pompeii exhibition in 2019.

According to Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the site, modern technology makes it possible to recover information from residues that were previously discarded. This opens the door to reviewing materials in museums that could hide more surprises.