Saturday, 3 October 2026

Roman amphora from southern Spain labelled as holding young tuna aged two years

Roman amphora from southern Spain labelled as holding young tuna aged two years

This is what a tin can looked like in Ancient Rome.

This clay amphora of AD 70-100, for instance, states that it contains young tuna, matured for two years. The amphora is known to have been packed in the south of Spain.

What sort of fish is matured for two years? No, this is neither pickle nor rot, but rather a traditional fermented product that was eaten throughout the Roman world.

Report a translation error