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Journal article

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.

Publication status:: Published

Peer review status:: Peer reviewed

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APA Style

Carvalho, L. D. C., Pires, E., Domoney, K., Zuchtriegel, G., & McCullagh, J. (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.

MLA Style

Carvalho, LDC, et al. “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, vol. 147, no. 33, 2025, pp. 29756–66.

Chicago Style

Carvalho, LDC, E Pires, K Domoney, G Zuchtriegel, and J McCullagh. 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): 29756–66.
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Files:: Carvalho_et_al_2025_A_symbol_of.pdf

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Publisher copy:: 10.1021/jacs.5c04888

Authors

+ Carvalho, LDC More by this author

Institution:: University of Oxford
Division:: MPLS
Department:: Chemistry
Oxford college:: Linacre College
Role:: Author
ORCID:: 0000-0003-1884-3121

+ Pires, E More by this author

Institution:: University of Oxford
Division:: MPLS
Department:: Chemistry
Sub department:: Organic Chemistry
Role:: Author

+ Domoney, K More by this author

Institution:: University of Oxford
Division:: GLAM
Department:: Ashmolean Museum
Role:: Author

+ Zuchtriegel, G More by this author

Role:: Author

+ McCullagh, J More by this author

Institution:: University of Oxford
Division:: MPLS
Department:: Chemistry
Role:: Author
ORCID:: 0000-0003-4733-1205

Publisher:: American Chemical Society
Journal:: Journal of the American Chemical Society More from this journal
Volume:: 147
Issue:: 33
Pages:: 29756-29766
Place of publication:: United States of America
Publication date:: 2025-07-30
Acceptance date:: 2025-06-23
DOI:: 10.1021/jacs.5c04888
EISSN:: 1520-5126
ISSN:: 0002-7863

Language:: English
Keywords:: mathematical methods

animal derived food

ions

carbohydrates

peptides and proteins
Pubs id:: 2285222
Local pid:: pubs:2285222
Deposit date:: 2025-09-01
ARK identifier:: ark:/29072/ora_c25922557fb2429797d1aee988f68930

Terms of use

Copyright holder:: Carvalho et al
Copyright date:: 2025
Rights statement:: © 2025 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society. This article is licensed under CC-BY 4.0.

Licence:: CC Attribution (CC BY)

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