Residue of local plants and imported aromatics were found in two braziers discovered within Pompeii and the surrounding area, according to a new study, confirming the city’s role as part of Rome’s global trade network. 

The complete findings were published last week in the journal Antiquity.

Using chemical analysis to identify the signatures of the organic materials, researchers found that ashes taken from the two incense burners contained traces of local plants, as well as traces of a Burseraceae resin, most likely derived from Canarium, a tropical tree found in Africa and south Asia.

"We can now concretely demonstrate which perfumes were actually burned in Pompeii's domestic cult," Johannes Eber of Zurich University said. "In addition to regional plants, we also found traces of imported resins, a sign of Pompeii's extensive trade connections."

This marks "the first archaeological evidence of an imported resin in Pompeii," the study noted.

Traces of local plants was made up of findings similar to oak, laurel and stone-fruit trees (such as plum or cherry), aligning with historical record of oak and laurel being sacred to the gods Jupiter and Apollo, respectively.

Remnants of a “grape-derived product” was also found within one of the burners, the study noted, consistent with literary and artistic depictions of wine being used for ritual purposes in ancient Rome.

“The combination of various modern chemical and microscopic techniques suddenly makes the daily religious life of the inhabitants of Pompeii tangible,” added Philipp W. Stockhammer of the University of Munich.

"Without Pompeii, our knowledge of the Roman world would be less rich," said Pompeii Archaeological Park Director Gabriel Zuchtriegel, "but it is a wealth of knowledge and data that only contemporary archaeology can adequately capitalize on.”

“Thanks to integration with other sciences, we can still discover much about life in the ancient city."