We continue our series exploring the publication Ancient Magdala: Archaeological Excavations (2010–2017), Volume I: Daily Life, First Interpretations, which presents the results of the first seven years of archaeological excavations at Magdala. This time, we will explore the chapter Fragrances, Medicines, and Colours in Ancient Magdala, written by Ma. Luisa Vázquez de Ágredos Pascual and Cristina Expósito de Vicente.
The authors participated in the Magdala excavations during the 2018 and 2019 field seasons and have since maintained a scientific collaboration with the archaeological team a collaboration that is highly valued. In this chapter, they present archaeological evidence related to three key aspects of daily life in ancient Magdala: fragrances, medicinal substances, and the use of colours.
Through the analysis of 27 glass vessels recovered during the excavations, using archaeometric techniques, the authors identified residues of olive oil, the primary substance used as the base for perfume production in antiquity. They also detected evidence of other oils, including poppy oil, which was associated with therapeutic uses.
The study also examines the use of exotic spices and locally sourced ingredients in the production of fragrances. One of the most interesting findings concerns an area of the Magdala marketplace that had initially been interpreted as a space for food preparation and storage. However, detailed chemical analysis, together with the presence of oils, pigments, and other compounds, led the authors to propose that this area may instead have functioned as a workshop for the production of perfumes and fragrances.
In addition to discussing fragrances and medicinal substances, the chapter explores the composition of the pigments used in the Magdala synagogue. The archaeometric analyses indicate that most of these pigments were of local, mineral origin, while also considering the possibility that some pigments were obtained through trade with other regions.
We invite you to learn more about this chapter and the publication through upcoming editions of our newsletter and through Archaeopress, where you can access Volume I and discover the results of the first seven years of excavations at Magdala conducted by the Mexican archaeological expedition.
