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

Abstract

This study re-examines a 2500-year-old residue found in bronze jars at an underground shrine in Paestum (Italy), previously identified as a wax/fat/resin mixture excluding honey from its composition. Our multianalytical approach detected lipids, saccharide decomposition products, hexose sugars, and major royal jelly proteins supporting the hypothesis that the jars once also contained honey/honeycombs. The research highlights the value of reinvestigating archeological residues in museums with advanced biomolecular techniques and offers a more specific method for detecting bee products in ancient contexts.