The bees tell the story of disappeared landscapes: The case of the apiaries of Ürünlü/Kite (Bursa, Turkey)

Abstract

This study covers the ethnoarchaeological research on the hives abandoned 200 years ago, which evaluates the historical significance of studied apiaries and melissopalynological research, which addresses the change of floral diversity through palynological analysis in comparison with contemporary data. Conducted in the village of Ürünlü (Kite), Turkey, the study explores the effects of beekeeping, honey production, urbanization, and agricultural expansion on the flora of ancient Bithynia in recent centuries.

Extensive construction, new buildings, and landscape changes contributed to the obsolescence of these traditional apiaries. The abandonment of crude brick hive structures marked the shift to modern beekeeping. Melissopalynological analyses reveal that honey bees serve not only as honey producers but also as recorders of floristic change. Their foraging patterns reflect human-induced changes in floristic composition over time.

Traces of this unique apicultural practice persist in Turkey, particularly in a village near Bursa (ancient Prusa), south of the Sea of Marmara and were contributed to its strategic location along the Silk Road. Surrounding villages, including Ürünlü, still retain remnants of historical agricultural and pastoral activities. By examining these abandoned hives by a multidisciplinary approach, this study sheds light on the interplay between traditional beekeeping practices and environmental transformations. It underscores the importance of historical apiaries in understanding both past and present floristic diversity, offering valuable insights into the ecological and cultural history of the region.