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Archaeologists recently discovered ancient beehives dating back 3,000 years at the site of Tel Rehov in the Jordan valley in northern Israel (see Figure 1-4). This site appears to be the earliest physical evidence of beekeeping, around the time the prophet Elisha lived. Researchers estimate there were at least 180 hives made of clay cylinders, home to more than a million bees (shown in Figure 1-5). Archaeologists identified the remains of honey bees — including workers, drones, pupae, and larvae — inside about 30 clay hives. Each hive could have produced about 11 pounds of honey each year, making it a profitable business effort.

Courtesy of Amihai Mazar and Amihai Mazar, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

FIGURE 1-4: The discovery of these beehives during the Tel Rehov Expedition suggests that beekeeping was already an elaborate agricultural practice in Israel 3,000 years ago.

Drawing by Ana Iamim. Courtesy of Amihai Mazar, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

FIGURE 1-5: Artist rendering of this 3000-year-old apiary, which was estimated to have included over 180 clay hives.

This is the earliest discovery of beekeeping from ancient times. Each hive had a small hole on one side for the bees to come and go, and on the other side was a lid for the beekeeper to access the honeycomb. The archeologists used carbon dating on grains (of pollen?) that had spilled from a broken storage jar next to the hives to estimate that they were about 3,000 years old.

“The location of such a large apiary in the middle of a dense urban area is puzzling because bees can become defensive, especially during routine beekeeping inspections or honey harvesting,” the researchers wrote. They speculated that maybe the honey was so valuable it was worth placing in such a congested area where it could be watched and kept safe.