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This article was already highlighted in the UNRV newsletter. It reminded me about previous discussions (see post below). It is a good example of sensory archaeology, the branch of archaeology that studies how people in the past experienced the world through their senses (smell, sound, touch, taste, and sight) rather than focusing on objects, architecture, and objects. The article also shows how small residue samples can reveal global economic connections and domestic religious behavior. Pompeii Incense Study Researchers analyzed 2,000-year-old ash residues preserved inside two Roman incense burners from Pompeii and a nearby villa. Techniques like GC-MS and phytolith analysis allowed researchers to identify burned substances and confirm they were heated intentionally. What the ash contained was determined by advanced biomolecular and microscopic techniques: • Local plant materials (wood, grasses, possibly laurel or fruit trees) Exotic aromatic resins from the Burseraceae family-plants native to tropical Africa or Asia and related to frankincense/ elemi Chemical traces of grape products, likely wine, consistent with ritual libations Provides the first direct physical evidence of what Romans actually burned in household religious rituals. Confirms that imported incense was used not only by elites but in ordinary domestic shrines (lararia). Shows that ritual practice involved intentional heating/ burning, verified through biomolecular and microscopic analysis. Implications for global trade The presence of African/Asian resins in ordinary households shows: Pompeii was deeply connected to long-distance trade networks Imported luxury goods were accessible even to non-elite residents Trade routes likely linked India, Arabia, sub-Saharan Africa, Egypt, and Mediterranean ports before reaching Italy The study is a major contribution to sensory archaeology, reconstructing ancient smells, materials, and ritual experiences. https://arkeonews.net/sacred-smoke-and-global-trade-pompeiis-ash-reveals-a-2000-year-old-network/