In Odemira, Portugal, scientists have unearthed mummified bees that date back nearly 3,000 years, offering invaluable perspectives into the ancient species of bees and the environment they inhabited. The images, captured through a binocular lens, showcase detailed features of the bee’s back, taken from sediment-filled cocoons. Credit is attributed to Andrea Baucon for these images.
A recent scholarly article announces the excavation of hundreds of bees preserved in cocoons from approximately 2,975 years ago. These cocoons were discovered at a newly identified paleontological site along the coastline of Odemira, Portugal.
During the same period, several crucial historical events were taking place worldwide. Pharaoh Siamun governed Lower Egypt, the Zhou Dynasty was in power in China, and Solomon was set to inherit the throne from David in Israel. Concurrently, in the region now known as Portugal, indigenous tribes were nearing the conclusion of the Bronze Age. Specifically, in what is today Odemira, a peculiar and uncommon event occurred: hundreds of bees perished within their cocoons, remaining preserved down to the finest anatomical details.
The cocoons, as revealed by the discovery, were preserved through an exceedingly uncommon fossilization technique. Typically, the exoskeleton of these insects decomposes quickly due to its organic, chitinous composition.
Images acquired via X-ray micro-computed tomography exhibit a male Eucera bee inside a sealed cocoon. These images were obtained at the ICTP ElettramicroCT facility in Trieste’s Elettra synchrotron radiation center in Italy. They display the structure of the excavated brood chamber, sealed by a spiral cap and containing an adult bee on the verge of exiting the cell. Federico Bernardini of the ICTP is credited for these images.
Carlos Neto de Carvalho, the scientific coordinator at Geopark Naturtejo, a UNESCO Global Geopark, and a collaborating researcher at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, remarks that the preservation level is so remarkable that they could determine not only the anatomical features that classify the type of bee but also its gender and even the monofloral pollen the mother left behind in the cocoon.
The paleontologist also revealed that this research project identified four paleontological sites with a high concentration of bee cocoon fossils—numbering in the thousands within a one-square-meter area. These sites are located between Vila Nova de Milfontes and Odeceixe, along Odemira’s coastline. The local municipality was notably supportive of this scientific investigation, facilitating its carbon-14 dating.
Andrea Baucon, one of the co-authors and a paleontologist at the University of Siena, Italy, emphasizes that while the fossil record of bee nests and hives spans 100 million years, instances of fossilization of the bee itself are almost nonexistent.
Remarkably preserved, the cocoons produced around 3,000 years ago serve as sarcophagi for the young Eucera bees that never emerged into the world. They are part of about 700 bee species currently found in mainland Portugal. Advanced imaging techniques revealed that these cocoons are lined with an intricate thread of organic polymer, produced by the mother bee.
Microcomputed tomography techniques offered a flawless, three-dimensional view of the preserved bees encased in sealed cocoons, sometimes alongside remnants of monofloral pollen left by the mother for the larva’s nourishment in its early life stages.
The finding is particularly relevant as bee populations worldwide, critical pollinators with over 20,000 existing species, are declining due to human activities and climate change. Research into the ecological factors that led to the ancient mummification of these bee populations could contribute to resilience strategies against modern climate change. Carlos Neto de Carvalho suggests that a sharp decline in temperature or unexpected flooding could have caused the death and mummification of these bees almost three millennia ago.
This research represents a collaborative effort between Ibero-Italian scholars from various academic institutions, including the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, University of Genova, University of Coimbra, Polytechnic Institute of Tomar, University of Siena, University of Venice, University of Seville, and other research centers.
Reference: The research paper, titled “Eucera bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Eucerini) preserved in their brood cells from late Holocene (middle Neoglacial) palaeosols of southwest Portugal,” was published on July 27, 2023, in Papers in Paleontology with a DOI of 10.1002/spp2.1518.
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Mummified Bees
What is the significance of the mummified bees discovered in Odemira, Portugal?
The discovery of nearly 3,000-year-old mummified bees offers invaluable insights into ancient bee species, their environment, and the preservation methods that have kept them intact. The finding opens a window into the ecological conditions of the time and could inform modern strategies for dealing with climate change.
Where were these ancient bee specimens found?
The bee specimens were found in a newly identified paleontological site along the coastline of Odemira, Portugal.
How were these bees preserved?
The bees were preserved in their cocoons through an exceedingly rare fossilization technique. Typically, the chitinous composition of insect exoskeletons leads to rapid decomposition, but these specimens remained preserved in fine detail.
What does the level of preservation indicate?
The exceptional level of preservation allowed scientists to determine not only the specific type of bee but also its gender and even the monofloral pollen left behind by the mother bee in the cocoon.
What historical period do these mummified bees date back to?
The bees date back to approximately 2,975 years ago, a time when Pharaoh Siamun ruled Lower Egypt, the Zhou Dynasty was in power in China, and Solomon was set to inherit the throne from David in Israel.
Who conducted the research and study of these mummified bees?
The research was a collaborative Ibero-Italian effort involving various academic institutions, including the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, University of Genova, University of Coimbra, Polytechnic Institute of Tomar, and others.
How could this discovery impact our understanding of climate change?
Understanding the ecological factors that led to the ancient mummification of these bee populations could contribute to developing resilience strategies against modern climate change.
What imaging techniques were used in the study?
Advanced X-ray micro-computed tomography techniques were used to obtain detailed three-dimensional images of the mummified bees inside their sealed cocoons.
What species do these ancient bees belong to?
These ancient bees are part of the Eucera species, one of about 700 bee species that currently exist in mainland Portugal.
How were the sites for this discovery identified?
The paleontological sites were identified as part of a research project, and they were found to have a high concentration of bee cocoon fossils. Carbon-14 dating was facilitated by the local municipality of Odemira.
More about Mummified Bees
- Original Study on Paleontology of Ancient Bees
- Geopark Naturtejo: UNESCO Global Geopark
- Instituto Dom Luiz at University of Lisbon
- University of Siena’s Paleontology Department
- X-ray Micro-computed Tomography
- About Eucera Bees
- Impact of Climate Change on Bees
- History of the Zhou Dynasty
- Information on Pharaoh Siamun
- Carbon-14 Dating Explained
- Modern Strategies for Climate Resilience
10 comments
Love the historical context here. It’s not just about the bees, but also what was happening globally at the time. Puts things in perspective.
If ancient bees can teach us how to be resilient in the face of modern climate challenges, I’m all ears! or should I say, all antennae 🙂
exceptional preservation even allowed for the type and sex of the bee to be determined! that’s just insane.
Never knew my hometown was a hotspot for ancient mummified bees. Putting Odemira on the map!
So you’re telling me these ancient bees could help us understand climate change today? That’s seriously cool and kinda scary.
Wow, this is mind-blowing stuff! Who’d have thought we’d learn so much frm bees that lived 3k years ago.
Carbon-14 dating, 3D imaging, multi-country collab… this research is a scientific tour de force.
Those imaging techs are next level. A 3D image of a bee from 3000 yrs ago? science has come a long way.
This is why I love science. You never know what you’re gonna discover next.
gotta include this in my next paper. This study is too good to ignore.