Abstrakt
Pinus halepensis is closely related to Pinus brutia (Pinus halepensis subsp. brutia (Ten.) Holmboe) as well as Pinus pinea. All these species share many of their characteristics, including that their resin was used to seal pottery vessels during transport via sea (or river).
None of these species naturally occurred in the territory of Bulgaria, although during the Classical and Hellenistic period, archaeobotanical remains (pine nut shells) and chemical analyses of the organic residues from the material stored in the vessels suggest that their products have been widely imported into Ancient Thrace. The abundant traces of the Aleppo Pine indicate presence of conservation as well as the Greek wine retsina.
This type of resin was used to give a unique flavor to white wine and it must have been imported from Greece mainland or the Aegean islands (e.g. Thasos, Rhodes) where the retsina was usually produced.