In the ancient ruins of Pompeii, time seems unusually still. Roads, houses and small shops are frozen after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Of the many finds scattered across the site, the most puzzling is a set of ceramic jars built directly into the stone counters inside the Roman tavern. Archaeologists have studied them for decades, yet their purpose remains unclear. The jars are physically present, but their story is out of reach. That uncertainty has made them one of the quietest mysteries of everyday Roman life.Now, new research using advanced scanning technology is beginning to change the way we understand these objects. Answers are still sketchy, but the details that are emerging are beginning to reshape long-held beliefs. The findings suggest that these jars may contain more information about Roman craftsmanship and daily trade than previously thought.
The mystery of the Pompeii tabernacle and the built-in jar that survived for nearly 2,000 years
At Pompeii, archaeologists have identified more than 150 small tavern-style establishments known as tabernae. These were simple one-room shops that served food and drink to locals and travelers. Many of these places have ceramic jars permanently set into stone counters. These jars vary in size and shape. Some are tall and narrow, reaching about three feet in height. Others are smaller and more circular. They are not removable, and they were clearly built as part of the structure rather than added later.For years, researchers could only investigate them by looking at them. Opening them was never an option as it would have destroyed both the ships and their archaeological context. As a result, their purpose remained uncertain. Scholars have debated whether they stored food, liquids, or something entirely different. No single explanation has been confirmed.
What 3D scans of Pompeii jars reveal about Roman craftsmanship
A recent study published in Archaeological Method and Theory used non-invasive scanning techniques to examine the jars. Instead of physically touching or removing them, the researchers used a handheld light scanner to capture their internal structure. The team analyzed about 40 jars from 14 different wineries. They then created detailed 3D models based on the scans. These models allowed them to study the internal shape, alignment, and structural stability of each ship.The results showed that the jars were probably made using a slow-turning potter’s wheel. The process was not entirely industrial, but neither was it entirely handmade. This appears to be a controlled method that still allows for small variations during production.
How ancient potters created jars through layered, step-by-step techniques
From the analysis it can be inferred that ancient potters used a step-by-step process in making these jars. They would build a part of the ship, stop, add new material and continue the process. This resulted in small errors in different parts of each jar. Some jars exhibit high stability with respect to their manufacture, while others do not. This implies that multiple workshops or potters were involved in making them. In some cases, jars from different wineries display similar shapes and construction patterns. This indicates some form of training among the potters of the area. On the other hand, most other jars vary considerably in terms of both their size and internal structure.
what were these jars used for
Despite all the recent discoveries about how these vessels were made, their original purpose has not yet been established. Scientists cannot establish exactly what was stored in them. According to some scholars, the contents of the jar may have been some cooked food, such as a stew. This hypothesis is more likely than any liquids due to the fact that they were fixed inside the counter and therefore could not be easily cleaned.Nevertheless, there is no chemical evidence proving the above hypothesis. There are other possible uses of the jar that are still under discussion. These can be used to store semi-solid components or local foods to be consumed in taverns.