Biblical bee-keepers picked the best bees

Ancient Egyptian paintings depict bee-keeping, but hives were not found in the Middle East until 2005 when Amihai Mazar of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem excavated 30 clay cylinders identical to the hives in the paintings, in the ancient town of Tel Rehov.

Source: New Scientist

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19013-biblical-beekeepers-picked-the-best-bees.html