Sometimes specific pieces of evidence can prove very rich sources of information.
Beekeeping is an important economic activity in Sphakia (we have already mentioned what we have learned from ethnographic information about contemporary beekeeping in Unit 1 Session 4 Lesson 5). We now want you to use the Sphakia Survey Web site to explore the evidence for Graeco-Roman ceramic beehives from Region 8.
i. What sort of places do beehives come from? What inferences can be drawn about beekeeping in Region 8?
Open the Region 8 Ceramics database.
Sphakia Survey: Ceramics databaseIn the FUNCTION field, select 'Beehive'.
ii. From which Regions do beehives come? At what sort of sites are
beehives found? How typical of Sphakia as a whole is Region 8?
To do this open the Site database.
Sphakia Survey: Site databaseIn the ARTEFACT COMMENT field, select 'Beehive'.
For an outline of our knowledge of Graeco-Roman ceramic hives, see:
Jane Francis, 'Finds of Graeco-Roman Beehives from Sphakia, SW Crete'These pages are from a course designed for the Alliance for Lifelong Learning Web site, with an associated online discussion forum, and other functionality, and any references to these should be ignored.