Researchers in Southwest Numidia (modern-day Tunisia) have discovered a series of ritual pits containing honey-glazed ceramic vessels. These 2,500-year-old offerings were found near ancient apiaries, providing the first archaeological evidence of the "Festival of the First Swarm", an early spring celebration dedicated to the revitalization of bee colonies.
The pottery shows traces of a mixture of wild honey and resin, which was poured into the pits as a libation to earth deities. This discovery highlights the economic and religious importance of apiculture in ancient North African societies, where the first appearance of bee swarms was viewed as a divine omen of a prosperous harvest season.