Archaeologists have found 3,000-year-old pots of honey that are still edible.

World History

A ncient Egyptian royals were often buried with objects they believed were needed for a harmonious transition to the afterlife. Items such as jewelry and games were common inclusions in their tombs, as were everyday staples such as clothing and food. And while we might expect any ancient food to decompose past the point of recognition, archaeologists have actually uncovered 3,000-year-old pots of honey that were, remarkably, intact — and still edible.

Honey's extraordinary shelf life is the result of several factors. Its low water content and high sugar levels create an environment that's inhospitable to bacterial growth, and it also contains trace amounts of hydrogen peroxide, which acts as a natural microbial inhibitor. While other foods with similar sugar makeup tend to spoil faster, honey has its sophisticated alchemists to thank for its resilience: Bees use their rapidly flapping wings to evaporate most of the honey's water, and an enzyme in their stomachs contributes to honey's unique antibacterial property. Egyptians were some of the earliest known organized beekeepers, and along with sending honey into the next life with the deceased, they also offered the sweet substance to their deities.

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By the Numbers

Earliest evidence of honey being gathered by humans

7000 BCE

Approximate age (in years) of the oldest mummy found in Egypt

4,300

Did you know?

The bear that inspired Winnie-the-Pooh preferred condensed milk.

Winnie-the-Pooh is often seen in books or cartoons with a paw in a jar of honey. But the real-life bear that Pooh was based on preferred a different sweet snack: condensed milk and, sometimes, corn syrup. The inspiration for the Winnie-the-Pooh children's book was a Canadian black bear cub who was adopted by a soldier named Harry Colebourn during World War I. Colebourn named the bear after his hometown of Winnipeg — "Winnie" for short — and trained the bear with rewards of condensed milk and corn syrup. He eventually donated the bear to the London Zoo, where she became a popular attraction. Local author A.A. Milne's son, Christopher Robin Milne, often visited the zoo and became smitten with Winnie, spending time with her and doling out one of her favorite snacks: condensed milk.

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