Out Of The Comb
Our team works closely with archaeologists to investigate aspects of beekeeping in the past. Replica hives have been built and populated with honey bee colonies, allowing us to study how colonies function in these structures and answer questions about particular practices. They also serve as living museum exhibits for university students.
Two characteristic examples are a replica of a horizontal, single-opening hive from the 4th century BC, originating in Attica, and a replica of a horizontal, single-opening hive from the 7th century AD from Crete.
Our studies have demonstrated that, using a specific method, a colony can be guided to build combs in an arrangement that makes honey harvesting easier.
Maintaining such an apiary is a significant undertaking in itself. By reviving traditional techniques, such as stone-built recesses, we recreate historical conditions and give visitors direct experience of the beekeeping practices of the time.