[SunkenCiv]

Bees used these holes to enter and exit from the ancient clay hives at Tel Rehov, Israel. (Image: Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

[WorkingClassFilth]

Bees are still kept like that all over the world with the exception that many cultures use wooden gums made from tree limbs/trunks instead of fashioning the clay cylinders. Whatever works - the most important thing is probably that the cavity has acceptable dimensions and seems secure the bees. Despite the thousands of years of the human-bee relationship, bees are still not domesticated - the best we can do is to accommodate them and hope that they'll do the rest.

[Ken H]

I saw a nature show about a species of bird in Africa that had learned to lead tribesmen to wild honey. I guess the bees kept the birds from getting it themselves. Anyway, it showed them flying from tree to tree waiting for the men to follow. In return, the men gave the birds generous helpings of the honey.

[JoeProBono]