The reconstructed wine jars from the time of King Zedekiah, which were found to contain traces of vanilla. Israeli researchers found vanilla remnants in ancient wine jars about 2,600 years ago, Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) said. Photo: Ortal Chalaf. Restoration: Joseph Bocangolz

Remnants of the smashed wine jars in Jerusalem. The ancient jars were discovered inside the storage rooms of two buildings in old Jerusalem. Credit: Eliyahu Yanai/City of David

Stage of restoration in the laboratories of the Israel Antiquities Authority. In a newly published study in the journal PLOS ONE, researchers from the IAA and Tel Aviv University found the remains of the exotic luxurious spice while examining the sides of 13 ceramic jars, used for wine and olive oil storage. Photo: Ortal Chalaf/Israel Antiquities Authority/

Collection of wine jars after the restoration process. The findings also reflect Jerusalem’s involvement in the trans-regional South Arabian trade of spices and other lucrative commodities, they added. Initially, the trade was carried out under the auspices of the Assyrian Empire, and later probably under the Egyptians and Babylonians. Photo: Dafna Gazit, Israel Antiquities Authority

The rosette seal impression of the Kingdom of Judah, on a wine jar handle. Five of the jars bear rosette stamp impressions on their handles, indicating that their content was related to the Kingdom of Judah’s royal economy. Credit: Dafna Gazit/Israel Antiquities Authorit