Preliminary results of the organic residue analysis of 13th century cooking wares from a household in Frankish Paphos (Cyprus)

A pioneering organic residue analysis of 13th-century cooking wares from Frankish Paphos, Cyprus, reveals that glazed ceramics absorb and preserve food residues, offering a rare window into medieval Eastern Mediterranean foodways. The study, part of the POMEDOR Project, examined 11 vessels—including glazed pans/baking dishes, unglazed pots, and jugs—using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry to identify animal products and potential wine derivatives. This confirms that ceramic analysis can reconstruct original vessel contents, advancing our understanding of medieval culinary practices through interdisciplinary historical, archaeological, and archaeometric research.

Pecci, A., Gabrieli, R. S., Inserra, F., Cau, M. A., & Waksman, S. Y. (2015). Preliminary results of the organic residue analysis of 13th century cooking wares from a household in Frankish Paphos (Cyprus). STAR: Science & Technology of Archaeological Research, 1(2), 99–105. https://doi.org/10.1080/20548923.2016.1183960