Metabolomics of Ancient Aromatic Plants (MetAPlant): Reconstructing Ancient Scents and Sensory Practises Across Artefacts, Bodies and Built Environments

01/06/2026 to 31/12/2031

Our reconstructions of the past are odourless, even though ancient lives were filled with scent. MetAPlant aims to bring fragrance back into history by making ancient smells scientifically detectable. Aromatic and spice plants shaped cuisine, perfumery, medicine, ritual, hygiene, and emotional life across ancient societies, yet their traces remain largely invisible in archaeology. MetAPlant overcomes this barrier by pioneering archaeometabolomics, the untargeted analysis of small molecules, and by introducing gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O/MS) into archaeological science. These techniques identify not only chemical compounds of aromatics, but also the specific molecules that still carry scent, enabling the first rigorous reconstructions of ancient perfume recipes, incense mixtures and cosmetics. The project integrates three sample matrices – organic residues from artefacts, dental calculus, and sediments – to reconstruct the preparation, consumption, and spatial organisation of aromatic practices. A dedicated experimental programme will analyse modern plants, historically attested preparations, and degradation series. Chemometrics, molecular networking, ancient textual sources, and ethnobotany will together reveal aromatic technologies and sensory environments. By restoring the molecular signatures of ancient scents, MetAPlant helps preserve intangible cultural heritage and offers a deep-time perspective on natural fragrance use. Scientifically grounded scent recreations will enable multisensory museum experiences, expanding access for visually impaired and neurodiverse visitors, while insights into ancient plant processing and ecological footprints inform contemporary debates on sustainable fragrance resources and the cultural meaning of botanical scents