Pompeii: exotic resins and local plants identified in ritual incense

Findings from Pompeii and Boscoreale: what was burned in domestic rituals

Recent multidisciplinary research on ash residues from two incense burners recovered at Pompeii and a villa in Boscoreale has identified unexpected organic components that reshape our view of everyday religious practices in the ancient city buried by Vesuvius.

Advanced chemical and microscopic analyses reconstructed the composition of combustion residues and highlighted:

• Exotic tree resins, likely originating from tropical regions of Africa or Asia, rather than the traditionally assumed incense;
• a combination of local plant fragrances and imported substances, indicating long-distance commercial connections;
• molecular traces of a grape-derived product in at least one burner, consistent with the ritual use of wine.

The study, carried out by university teams in partnership with the archaeological park authorities, demonstrates the value of integrating archaeological evidence with biomolecular methods to obtain a tangible picture of household worship.

For visitors and archaeology enthusiasts, these results:

• provide new interpretative keys for lararia and domestic spaces in Pompeian houses;
• highlight the variety of raw materials used in personal cults;
• underscore Pompeii’s role as an active hub in Mediterranean and beyond trade networks.

Practical note: analyses concern excavated finds and do not affect site access; consult the archaeological park’s scientific displays or information points for further details during your visit.