New Approaches to the Archaeology of Beekeeping

17 papers take a holistic view of beekeeping archaeology (including honey, wax, associated products, hive construction, and trade) in one large interconnected geographic region, the Mediterranean, central Europe, and the Atlantic Facade. The book serves as a handbook for current and future researchers considering the archaeology of b

New Approaches to the Archaeology of Beekeeping aims to take a holistic view of beekeeping archaeology (including honey, wax, and associated products, hive construction, and participants in this trade) in one large interconnected geographic region, the Mediterranean, central Europe, and the Atlantic Facade. Current interest in beekeeping is growing because of the precipitous decline of bees worldwide and the disastrous effect it portends for global agriculture. As a result, all aspects of beekeeping in all historical periods are coming under closer scrutiny. The volume focuses on novel approaches to historical beekeeping but also offers new applications of more established ways of treating apicultural material from the past. It is also keenly interested in helping readers navigate the challenges inherent in studying beekeeping historically. The volume brings together scholars working on ancient, medieval, early modern, and ethnographic evidence of beekeeping from a variety of perspectives. In this sense it will serve as a handbook for current researchers in this field and for those who wish to undertake research into the archaeology of beekeeping.

Preface - David Wallace-Hare (San Diego State University) Acknowledgements 1. A New Approach to the Study of Ancient Greek Beekeeping - Georgios Mavrofridis (University of the Aegean) 2. Smoke and Bees: From Prehistoric to Traditional Smokers in Greece - Sophia Germanidou (University of Newcastle) 3. Potters and Beekeepers: Industrial Collaboration in Ancient Greece - Jane Francis-Concordia University (jane.francis@concordia.ca) 4. Honey Pots: Some Observations on a Specialised Vase Shape - Paolo Persano (Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa) 5. Palynological Insights into the Ecology and Economy of Ancient Bee-Products: A Contribution to the History of Beekeeping - Lorenzo Castellano (Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, New York University); Cesare Ravazzi, Roberta Pini, Giulia Furlanetto, Franco Valoti (Research Group Vegetation, Climate and Human Stratigraphy, Laboratory of Palynology and Paleoecology, Institute of Environmental Geology and Geoengineering, National Research Council, Italy) 6. La Apicultura en el Ager de Segobriga-Cuenca, Espana: Un Caso de Estudio en el Centro Peninsular (ss. I d.C. al XI d.C.) - Jorge Mori'n (Departamento de Arqueologi'a, Paleontologi'a y Recursos Culturales de AUDEMA); Rui Roberto de Almeida (Investigador da UNIARQ-Universidade de Lisboa / Ca^mara Municipal de Loule'); and Isabel Sanchez Ramos (Universidad Pablo de Olavide de Sevilla) 7. Beekeeping and Problematic Landscapes: Beekeeping and Mining in Roman Spain and North Africa - David Wallace-Hare (San Diego State University) 8. Evidence of Dalmatian Beekeeping in Roman Antiquity - Kristina Jelincic Vuckovic, Ivana Ozanic Roguljic (Institute of Archaeology, Zagreb, Croatia); and Emmanuel Botte (MMSH, Centre Camille Jullian Aix-en-Provence Cedex) 9. Ancient Rock-cut Apiaries in the Mediterranean Area: Some Case Studies - Roberto Bixio (Hon. Inspector for Archaeology, sector Artificial Cavities, Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage); Andrea Bixio (Centro Studi Sotterranei, Genoa); Andrea De Pascale (Museo Archeologico del Finale /Istituto Internazionale di Studi Liguri, sezione Finalese Finale Ligure/Savona) 10. Appiaria in Civitate aut in Villa: Bees and Cities in the Early Medieval West - Javier Martinez Jimenez (Faculty of Classics/Churchill College, University of Cambridge) 11. The Production and Trade of Wax in North-Eastern Iberia, XIV-XVI C: The Case of Catalonia - Lluis Sales i Fava (King's College London) and Alexandra Sapoznik (King's College London) 12. Del Panal a la Mesa: La Miel en la Corona de Aragon (siglos XIV-XV) - Pablo Jose Alcover Cateura (Food Observatory, ODELA, Universitat de Barcelona) 13. Honey and Wax in Medieval Tyrol on the Basis of Tyrolean Land Registers (Urbaria) and Books of Accounts - Barbara Denicolo (University of Salzburg) 14. Early Irish Law on Beekeeping, with Particular Reference to Bechbretha 'Bee-Judgements' - Fergus Kelly (Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies) 15. Arqueologia de la Apicultura en la Asturias Preindustrial - Joaquin Lopez Alvarez (Museu del Pueblu d'Asturies) 16. Approches de l'Archeologie L'Apiculture Insolite du Nord de l'Espagne - Robert Chevet (Apistoria) 17. A apicultura historica no Norte de Portugal, entre praticas tradicionais e inovacao mobilista - Teresa Soeiro (CITCEM), Preface – David Wallace-Hare (San Diego State University) Acknowledgements ;