The mystery surrounding ancient jars in Pompeii taverns may finally have an answer. Researchers in Japan have used advanced 3D scanning technology to study large ceramic jars sealed inside the stone counters of Roman taverns in Pompeii, uncovering how the vessels were built and likely used nearly 2,000 years ago.
The study, led by Xinyan Zhao and published in the Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, marks the first time researchers have systematically analyzed the interiors of these containers without damaging the ancient counters that surround them.
The jars were buried when Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD 79, preserving much of the Roman city under layers of volcanic material. While archaeologists have excavated Pompeii’s taverns for more than 200 years, the vessels embedded in their counters have remained difficult to study because their outer surfaces were encased in hardened Roman concrete.
Hidden vessels inside Roman taverns
Pompeii contained more than 150 taverns that served food and drink to residents and travelers. Many featured stone counters fitted with large ceramic jars. Researchers long debated what the vessels stored and how Roman potters produced them.
Some historians believed the jars held liquids such as wine or oil. Others argued that repeated liquid storage would have been impractical because the containers were difficult to waterproof and clean.
Recent discoveries from excavations in Pompeii suggested the vessels were more closely linked to food preparation. Archaeologists found remains of several animal species and traces of legumes inside some jars, pointing to cooked meals rather than simple storage.
Still, many questions remained unanswered because researchers could only see the inside opening of the vessels while the rest stayed sealed inside masonry.
A scanner small enough to fit inside the jars
To solve the problem, Zhao and fellow researcher Yoshiki Hori used a portable structured-light scanner known as “Go! SCAN SPARK.” Instead of lasers, the device projects patterns of white light onto surfaces and records extremely precise measurements.
Researchers cleaned soil and debris from the jars before inserting the scanner into each container from difficult angles. They then created complete 3D models of the interiors of 40 vessels from 14 taverns across Pompeii. The digital models allowed the team to measure shapes, dimensions, and internal symmetry for the first time.
Roman potters used careful and repeatable methods
The scans revealed that the jars were not identical. Some were cylindrical, while others had rounded or bulb-like forms. The findings suggest the traditional term “dolia,” often used to describe all such vessels, may oversimplify their diversity.
Researchers focused especially on the jars’ central axis, an invisible line running through the middle of each vessel. Slight bends and shifts in this axis preserved clues about how Roman artisans shaped the clay.
Researchers have scanned the interiors of massive ceramic jars sealed inside ancient Pompeii taverns for the first time without damaging them.
Using advanced 3D technology, the team discovered that Roman potters built the vessels in sections with slow wheel-assisted techniques. pic.twitter.com/FgrWkDkG7l
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) May 13, 2026
The study found that the vessels tilted less than 2.3 degrees from vertical, showing remarkable precision for hand-made containers nearly 3 feet tall.
The patterns also indicated that potters slowly rotated the jars on a wheel while shaping them by hand. According to the researchers, Roman craftsmen likely combined wheel-assisted techniques with traditional clay-building methods instead of relying entirely on one process.
Some jars showed repeating patterns in their internal structure. Researchers said this proves the vessels were built in sections. Potters likely added clay layer by layer, stopping at intervals to smooth and stabilize the shape before continuing upward.
The findings suggest Roman artisans followed organized and repeatable production methods rather than relying only on improvisation.
Clues to workshops and trade networks
Several jars from the same taverns shared nearly identical shapes and structural patterns, suggesting they may have come from the same workshop or group of trained craftsmen. Other vessels differed greatly, even when located side by side.
Researchers believe the variation points to a flexible production system in which skilled artisans worked across multiple workshops or reused older containers through secondary trade networks.
One tavern contained two similarly shaped jars with very different manufacturing patterns. Researchers said one vessel may have been brought in later from another source, possibly as a reused item.
Beyond Pompeii, the study could help archaeologists examine other fragile or inaccessible artifacts without removing them from their original setting. The method may eventually be used to study sealed storage vessels, burial containers, and embedded ceramics at ancient sites worldwide.
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