We know that people were harvesting honey from wild bees as early as 8,000 years ago from rock carvings in the Cuevas de la Araña, or Spider Caves in Valencia, Spain. Also in the Barranco Gómez cave on the banks of the Guadalope River. A find during excavations in Georgia in 2003 provided not only images of honey harvesting, but also the oldest honey that has been found in the world.
Honey is older than the honey from Tutankhamun’s tomb
Near the village of Sakire in the Borjomi, archaeologists have found honey that is 5,500 years old. In the ancient burial of a noble woman were found ceramic vessels with remnants of linden and flower honey, which is believed to have been left in the burial for future afterlife food. Archaeologists believe that this honey is 2500 years older than previously found in 1922 during the excavation of Tutankhomun’s tomb in Egypt, which is 3000 years old. Interestingly, honey from Georgia was collected and placed in vessels when the Argonauts, who traveled to the shores of Colchis, were not yet born.
Similarity to Egyptian honey
There are many similarities in the finding from Georgia and Egypt. Also, as in Ancient Egypt, in Ancient Georgia honey was found in good preservation, in the tomb of a noble person. It was also put in ceramic vessels and was clearly intended for consumption in the afterlife.
After the finding of honey in the tomb, it can be assumed that Georgia is not only the country where the first winemakers appeared, but possibly beekeepers as well. Given this, Georgia can claim to be the country where beekeeping emerged.
FAQ
The oldest honey found in the world is 5500 years old. This is the conclusion reached by scientists during excavations of an ancient burial site in Borjomi, Georgia.
The oldest honey, which is 5500 years old, was found at a burial site in a ceramic vessel in Georgia. Based on biological analysis it was linden and flower honey.
The oldest honey in the world was found in a burial site near the modern village of Sakire in the Borjomi region in Georgia.
