Pottery Find Proves Olive Oil Used in Israel 8,000 Years Ago
New evidence suggests olive oil was used in Israel and possibly the Mediterranean basin as early as 8,000 years ago.
New research has shown that olive oil was utilized in Israel and the Mediterranean area as far back as 8,000 years ago, as indicated by tests on pottery at En Zippori in Lower Galilee. The study by researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Israel Antiquities Authority found traces of olive oil in pottery shards dating back to 5,800 BCE, suggesting early large-scale production and consumption of olive oil in the region.
New research has uncovered evidence that olive oil was used in Israel and possibly the Mediterranean basin as early as 8,000 years ago.
A study published in the Israel Journal of Plant Sciences on November 24 revealed the results of tests carried out on pottery uncovered during excavations between 2011 and 2013 at En Zippori in Lower Galilee.
A team of researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Israel Antiquities Authority used samples of the shards of pottery to conduct an organic residue analysis and found them to contain traces of olive oil. The tests also indicated that some of the pottery vessels found here date back to 5,800 BCE and were used for the storage of olive oil.
These findings, along with those uncovered at the submerged site of Kfar Samir off the coast of Israel where crushed olive stones and olive pulp were found buried in pits, provide the earliest evidence of the large-scale production and consumption of olive oil in Israel and possibly the entire Mediterranean region.
While the Kfar Samir study estimated that olive oil was produced in the region 6,500 years ago, the fact that the pottery found at En Zippori dates back to 5,800 BCE, means that olive oil production and consumption could go back as much as 8,000 years.
This indicates that olive oil was a diet staple in the region at the time, but researchers also speculate that it may have also been used as fuel in oil lamps.
Related Articles
Dec. 18, 2025
Hiroshima Receives Olive Tree from Italy as Symbol of Peace on 80th Anniversary
An olive tree donated by Italy’s Città dell’Olio was planted in Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park, renewing a decades-long commitment to peace and solidarity between the two countries.
Nov. 11, 2025
The Mission to Preserve Traditional Table Olive Recipes
Three researchers and communicators launched the Olives Around the Table initiative to collect traditional recipes from 20 Mediterranean countries for a digital archive.
Apr. 22, 2025
Discovery of Ancient Olive Farming in Sicily Challenges Previous Beliefs
Researchers have discovered evidence of ancient olive farming in Sicily, 1,000 years earlier than previously thought, through pollen analysis and historical analysis.
Sep. 29, 2025
New Initiatives Promote Olive Oil Culture in Northern Italy
New projects are advancing olive oil culture in northern Italy, with the opening of an oleoteca and a collective highlighting top-quality producers.
Nov. 4, 2025
Olive Tree Plantings Across Italy Mark ‘Walking Among the Olive Trees’ Day for Peace
Under the banner “Let’s Cultivate Peace,” thousands of Italians walked among olive groves, planted trees, and shared in tastings and workshops dedicated to harmony and sustainability.
May. 22, 2025
Journalists, Poets and Scientists Honored at Ranieri Filo della Torre Prize
Olive Oil Times senior writer Ylenia Granitto was among the individuals awarded at the eighth edition of the cultural and literary award ceremony in Rome.
Dec. 15, 2025
Italy’s National Cuisine Inscribed on UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List
Italy has become the first country to have its entire national cuisine recognized by UNESCO, highlighting Italian cooking as a living heritage rooted in sustainability, diversity and shared traditions.
Feb. 16, 2026
New Science Rewrites the Origins of Olive Cultivation in Italy
New paleogenetic and archaeobotanical techniques are challenging long-held assumptions about when olives were first cultivated in Italy, pointing to earlier and more regionalized beginnings.