Ancient Honey Discovered in 2,500-Year-Old Bronze Jars in Italy

Researchers have identified honey residues in bronze jars from a 6th-century BCE Greek shrine in Paestum, Italy, confirming their use as ritual offerings. The jars, discovered in 1954, contained a sticky substance that previous analyses had failed to identify. Recent studies employing advanced techniques, including mass spectrometry, revealed sugars and proteins characteristic of honey, suggesting the jars once held honeycomb offered to deities. This finding provides new insights into ancient Mediterranean rituals and the significance of honey in religious practices.