…a land flowing with milk and honey

In Israel, in the valley of the Jordan River, archaeologists have discovered the most ancient beehives in the form of clay cylinders. This find is the first material evidence that in the IXth-Xth centuries BC an apiary craft flourished in the Middle East. The phrase from the Bible: “… the land where milk and honey flow” finally received a scientific explanation.

Scientists studying the ancient Egyptian wall paintings, many times met images of hives with bees and people who are laboriously caring for these cleverest insects. But no confirmation of this in the Middle East for a long time could not be found.

The situation changed in 2005, when a group of researchers from the University of Jerusalem discovered 30 clay cylinders in the ancient city of Tel Rehov, which in their structure resembled hives depicted in ancient drawings.

This finding, undoubtedly, is the first material evidence that in the Middle East, there was an apiary trade. The fact that it is the ancient Egyptian wall paintings depict beekeepers – is not unambiguous. After all, the painter could capture them not only from nature, but convey an imaginary illustration.

In the best of times, according to the researchers, the found apiary contained up to 200 hives (the size of each reached about 80 centimeters in length and 40 cm in diameter. According to the researchers, the hives were made in the IXth-Xth centuries BC. Each “cylinder” was equipped with a hole on one side for the “walking” of bees, and the lid on the opposite side allowed the beekeeper to collect honey.

Also managed to find in the two hives the remains of several bees. Most of all scientists were struck by the fact that the bees were not of Syrian origin, but from a distant place, which today are considered to be Turkey.

Most likely, it was a well-thought-out economic move, because turkish bees produce eight times more honey than local species, and they are less dangerous and aggressive than Syrian ones.

The region of the Middle East, including, in particular, the territory of modern Turkey, is called the Fertile Crescent. It was its inhabitants who first learned the methods of farming and animal husbandry and later carried them around the world.

Researchers emphasize that this type of insects prefers a cool and humid climate, so their cultivation in the valley of the Jordan River required from beekeepers of great art. In order for the colony of bees to replenish with the number of individuals in the unusual dry climate of northern Israel, the beekeepers had to have incredible craftsmanship.

In the Bible, Israel is presented to us as “a land flowing with milk and honey.” And since no evidence of beekeeping has been found so far. But the last discovery shows that the lines inscribed in the sacred book fully corresponded to the truth.