Ancient Biblical beehives have been discovered in the northern Israeli site of Tel Rehov, in the Jordan Valley.
Archaeologists found the 3,000-year-old remains of honeybees – including workers, drones, pupae and larvae – inside some 30 clay cylinders, according to a report published in the June 8 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
A high-resolution microscope was used to study the bodies of the small insects. The scientists said they found that their legs and wings appeared to indicate they more closely resemble the bees found in modern-day Turkey than those of present-day Israel.
The bee body remains appear to belong to a different subspecies altogether than those that exist today in the Jewish State, the research team said, adding that the find suggests that ancient bee keepers might have imported the species for its special characteristics, such as better honey production or a milder temper.
The research team, led by Guy Bloch of Jerusalem's Hebrew University, used carbon dating on grains that spilled from a broken storage jar to determine the age of the items.
Three rows of hives were discovered in a courtyard that was part of a large 10th to 9th century (BCE) architectural complex. The clay pots each had a small hole on one side for the bees to use to access the hives, and on the other was a lid with which the bee keeper accessed the honey and honeycomb wax.
“The exceptional preservation of these remains provides unequivocal identification of the clay cylinders as the most ancient beehives yet found,” the team wrote.