Overview
- Researchers report in Frontiers in Materials that they analyzed 10 waterproofing samples from the Ilovik-Paržine 1 wreck using molecular chemistry paired with pollen study.
- Most coatings were made from heated pine pitch, while one rare layer mixed pitch with beeswax, a zopissa recipe noted by Pliny the Elder.
- The team distinguished at least four separate coating batches, pointing to construction near Brindisi in southern Italy and later repairs at ports on the northeastern Adriatic coast.
- Pollen trapped in each layer matched distinct landscapes, which let scientists tie a coating to the place where it was produced or applied.
- The authors say this combined analysis turns humble hull residues into records of ship upkeep, movement, and the spread of craft techniques across the region.