Archaeologists have performed the inaugural systematic, interdisciplinary examination of the structure, methods, and contents of 51 “Phoenician Oil Bottles” discovered on Motia Island, located off the western coast of Sicily, Italy. Their findings imply that these bottles were likely produced and filled in aromatic Phoenicia during the 8th to 6th centuries BCE and distributed throughout the Western Mediterranean.
A selection of ‘Phoenician Oil Bottles’ (750/740-550/530 BC) from Motia, Italy. Image credit: A. Orsingher.
The Phoenicians utilized aromatic substances in diverse manners. Often burned alongside ceramic, metal, or stone supports, these substances enhanced both indoor and outdoor environments, indicating the performance of various ritual practices.
Commonly depicted in Phoenician iconography are stereotypical images of smoke rising from fragrant burners before sacred figures and symbols.
Moreover, the ornamental or floral designs of the incense indicate a clear connection between scent and the function of the vessel.
Among the Phoenician ceramics linked to fragrant substances, a category of small, simple vessels known as “Phoenician oil bottles” is particularly noteworthy.
While not part of standard production, these jugs, dating from the 8th to 6th centuries BCE, typically feature narrow openings with thick, outwardly-rolled rims, a short, bulging neck that tapers, a single vertical handle, and spherical to oval bodies with either rounded or pointed bases.
Excluding notably large examples from the Teatrocomico of Cadiz, Phoenician oil bottles usually have a height of 11.5-14 cm with a maximum diameter of 8.5-10 cm until the mid-8th century BCE.
After this period, the height decreased to around 9.5 cm, the body shrank to approximately 6.5 cm, and handle sizes diminished, making them difficult to grasp.
These simple, slow-fired jugs have been unearthed from various settings across the Atlantic and Mediterranean regions, including graves, households, sanctified areas, pottery workshops, and shipwrecks, indicating their widespread use.
The small island in western Sicily, Italy, currently produces the highest quantity of these vessels.
“Their extensive distribution throughout the Mediterranean implies that these containers served multiple purposes,” states Dr. Adriano Orsinger, a researcher at CompCances University in Madrid and the Institute of Biblical Archaeology.
In a recent study, Dr. Orsingher and his team analyzed ceramic compositions to trace the origins of the “Phoenician oil bottles.”
Subsequent evaluations of organic residues within the vessels provided insights into their original contents and purposes.
The findings indicate that these bottles were produced in southern Phoenicia, specifically between present-day Beirut and the Carmel region.
Organic residues were found in eight of the 51 vessels, showing traces of plant-based lipids and pine and mastic resins, strong indicators of light oil formulations.
“Our research confirms that these ceramic vessels were employed to transport aromatic oils,” asserts Dr. Sylvia Amikorn, a researcher at the University of Tübingen.
“These oils were not mere commodities. They acted as cultural connectors and embodiments of identity during the Phoenician migration in the Mediterranean,” Dr. Orsingher remarked.
“By carrying familiar scents, they served as tools for memory, enhancing shared practices and olfactory experiences among dispersed communities.”
The Iron Age Mediterranean was characterized by intense mobility, trade, and cultural interconnections.
Phoenicians, celebrated as seafarers, traders, artisans, and settlers, played a pivotal role in this connectivity, establishing communities far from their Levantine homelands.
Central to Phoenician cultural practices was the production and utilization of aromatic substances, for both local consumption and export.
This study urges a reevaluation of historical transitions, trade, and cultural attributions experienced in the ancient world.
“Ancient mobility should be reconsidered not only as the movement of people and goods but as a cycle of sensory, olfactory, and memory traditions,” Dr. Orsingher emphasized.
“The significance of fragrance is intertwined with identity, making its role in migration, reconciliation, and cultural exchange often underestimated, yet crucial.”
“Our findings highlight the potential of interdisciplinary science to uncover the intangible aspects of antiquity,” Dr. Amikorn remarked.
“Investigating the contents and uses of these vessels offers a unique perspective on how scents connected life, landscapes, and identity in the ancient Mediterranean,” Dr. Ouger added.
“Innovative research methodologies continue to yield unexpected insights into the past,” proclaimed Carla Paulman, a professor at the University of Tübingen.
“This study demonstrates that even elusive evidence like ancient scents can be accessed through interdisciplinary approaches, opening new avenues into the ancient sensory and cultural realm.”
Survey results were published in Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory.
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A. Orsingher et al. 2025. Home scent: Motia’s Phoenician oil bottle. J Archaeol Method Theory 32, 59; doi:10.1007/s10816-025-09719-3
Source: www.sci.news
