Recent studies underscore Phoenician oil bottles’ value as cultural bridges in the Iron Age. These material culture artifacts played a determinative role in identity and memory creation for Phoenician migrant communities across the Mediterranean basin. These seafood-eating Phoenicians were the ones that archaeologists recently found large ceramic vessels indicating mass production in the ancient settlement of Motya, an island off the western coast of Sicily. These vessels, which are about 8th-6th centuries BCE, carried aromatic oils that were hugely important to their users.
Dr. Adriano Orsingher and his team carried out an in-depth physical-chemical analysis on 51 ceramic oil vessels from Motya. They went deep into their production, technology and contents. Those results underscore the fact that these vessels were not simply storage containers. They culturally articulated the cultural identity and expression of communities that moved over thousands of square miles.
Discoveries at Motya
You are currently using an outdated browser. Archaeologists have been captivated by the Phoenician settlement of Motya for decades. Recent studies have illuminated its cultural importance. The archeologists found oil bottles in graves, residential buildings, and holy sites. For the most part these bottles were unadorned, diminutive ceramic vessels less than 15.5-18.5 cm tall.
We examined 51 vessels and identified organic residues on eight vessels. These residues identified traces of plant-based lipids, and pine and mastic resin. However, oil is typically the delivery form used that contains herbal essences. These oils were an important part of the social and cultural practices of the Phoenicians.
“Our research confirms these ceramic vessels were used to transport aromatic oils.” – Amicone
The Role of Scent in Identity
In order to create these bridges between separated communities, scent plays a substantial role, Dr. Orsingher asserted. He remembered that the oils brought scents of home, too. These fragrances proved to be potent conduits of memory, reinforcing collective rituals and olfactory memories.
Dr. Orsingher argued for a wider rethinking of ancient mobility, remarking,
“These oils were more than simple commodities. They functioned as cultural connectors, as expressions of identity that accompanied Phoenician migrants across the Mediterranean.”
Smells were key to how communities migrated and settled. This long view provides important insights into how they developed identities and the national narratives that historians have all too frequently ignored.
“We must rethink ancient mobility, not just as the movement of people and goods, but as the circulation of smells, memories, and sensory traditions.”
These Phoenician oil bottles would help fuel the Mediterranean, and then some. Such a distribution suggests that these vessels were doing much more than ferrying goods. Dr. Orsingher remarked on the implications of their findings:
Insights into Trade and Cultural Exchange
The art historical analysis suggests a production location in southern Phoenicia, ranging roughly between modern-day Beirut and the Carmel area. This fascinating find highlights the profound interconnectedness of trade routes and cultural exchange throughout the Iron Age.
“Their widespread distribution across and beyond the Mediterranean suggests these vessels fulfilled diverse functions.”
Rooted in that research is recognition that understanding trade dynamics is key. It further showcases the possibilities of interdisciplinary approaches to address the sensory dimensions of past societies.
Dr. Orsingher summed up the bigger picture of this important research perfectly when she said,
“Innovative research approaches continue to uncover surprising insights into the past. This study shows how even elusive traces like ancient scents can be made accessible through interdisciplinary methods, opening new windows into the sensory and cultural worlds of antiquity.” – Karla Pollmann
Dr. Orsingher encapsulated the broader implications of this research by stating,
“By studying what these vessels contained and how they were used, we gain unique insights into how scents connected lives, landscapes, and identities in the ancient Mediterranean.”