Pine nuts are pretty common in Mediterranean cuisine

https://www.thespruceeats.com/thmb/ccOvmaY71HiTZ9EOOk9cnxOsG...

You can find pine cone soda at some Asian supermarkets:

https://gyppotravelreviews.wordpress.com/2019/03/16/unusual-...

Actually, I was going to point out that growing up I'd eat the nuts extracted from the cone of the Araucaria tree, which - depending on shape and how ripe they are - could look remarkably like a green pineapple [1].

... but that introduces another issue, because I grew up eating those in South America and it turns out the tree originates in Australia. But it's not unthinkable that a similar pine cone could be found in Europe (and the vast Roman Empire of the time).

[1] https://jerry-coleby-williams.net/2015/02/15/bunya-prehistor...

We can buy pine cones here in the supermarket at certain times of year (in Scandinavia).

They are usually around pear size.

Decoration? For the Pine Nuts? To separate easily bruised fruit?

clean your glass four eyes, it's grapes - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Rome_and_wine