Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Biodiversity and Human Values01:24

Biodiversity and Human Values

14.8K
Human civilization relies on biodiversity in many ways. Sudden changes in species biodiversity result in environmental changes that can modify weather patterns and therefore human civilizations.
14.8K
Altruism01:03

Altruism

29.9K
Altruistic behaviors are “unselfish” behaviors—those that help another individual at the expense of the individual carrying out the behavior. Despite the negative consequences for the altruistic animal, these behaviors are thought to have evolved for several reasons.
29.9K
Synteny and Evolution02:31

Synteny and Evolution

2.9K
John H. Renwick first coined the term “synteny” in 1971, which refers to the genes present on the same chromosomes, even if they are not genetically linked. The species with common ancestry tend to show conserved syntenic regions. Therefore, the concept of synteny is nowadays used to describe the evolutionary relationship between species.
Around 80 million years ago, the human and mice lineages diverged from the common ancestor. During the course of evolution, the ancestral...
2.9K
Evolutionary Psychology01:20

Evolutionary Psychology

1.3K
Evolutionary psychology explores the origins of human behavior and mental processes by framing them within the context of natural selection, a theory famously propounded by Charles Darwin. This field asserts that many behaviors common across human societies — ranging from instinctive fear reactions to complex social interactions — arose as evolutionary adaptations. These adaptations enhanced the survival and reproductive success of our ancestors, thereby becoming embedded in the...
1.3K
The Evidence for Evolution02:55

The Evidence for Evolution

40.1K
Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.
40.1K
What is Evolutionary History?02:35

What is Evolutionary History?

31.1K
Scientists record evolutionary history by analyzing fossil, morphological, and genetic data. The fossil record documents the history of life on Earth and provides evidence for evolution. However, both fossil and living organisms offer evidence that outlines Earth’s evolutionary history.
31.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Cognitive demands of bipedal locomotion during human foraging.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2026
Same author

Sexual Dimorphism in Facial and Body Shape and Their Relationship in Modern Humans of African, Asian, and European Descent.

American journal of human biology : the official journal of the Human Biology Council·2026
Same author

Concurrent bilateral adrenal haemorrhage and pulmonary emboli following emergency total hip replacement.

BMJ case reports·2026
Same author

Negative pressure wound therapy made simple: expert panel recommendations.

Journal of wound care·2026
Same author

Best practice guidelines for the diagnosis, evaluation, and management of cognitive disorders in Parkinson's disease.

Age and ageing·2026
Same author

Earliest evidence of elephant butchery at Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania) reveals the evolutionary impact of early human megafaunal exploitation.

eLife·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 1, 2026

Methods for Comparing Nutrients in Beebread Made by Africanized and European Honey Bees and the Effects on Hemolymph Protein Titers
08:42

Methods for Comparing Nutrients in Beebread Made by Africanized and European Honey Bees and the Effects on Hemolymph Protein Titers

Published on: March 17, 2015

14.8K

Honey, Hadza, hunter-gatherers, and human evolution.

Frank W Marlowe1, J Colette Berbesque2, Brian Wood3

  • 1Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Rm. 2.3, Henry Wellcome Building, Cambridge CB2 1QH, UK.

Journal of Human Evolution
|April 22, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Honey is a vital, energy-dense food for human hunter-gatherers, especially in warm climates. Early human ancestors likely consumed significant amounts of honey, more than great apes but less than modern foragers.

Keywords:
AfricaForagersHoney beesPaleodietSeasonalitySexual division of labor

More Related Videos

The HoneyComb Paradigm for Research on Collective Human Behavior
06:48

The HoneyComb Paradigm for Research on Collective Human Behavior

Published on: January 19, 2019

10.9K
Preparation of Single-cohort Colonies and Hormone Treatment of Worker Honeybees to Analyze Physiology Associated with Role and/or Endocrine System
08:53

Preparation of Single-cohort Colonies and Hormone Treatment of Worker Honeybees to Analyze Physiology Associated with Role and/or Endocrine System

Published on: September 6, 2016

15.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 1, 2026

Methods for Comparing Nutrients in Beebread Made by Africanized and European Honey Bees and the Effects on Hemolymph Protein Titers
08:42

Methods for Comparing Nutrients in Beebread Made by Africanized and European Honey Bees and the Effects on Hemolymph Protein Titers

Published on: March 17, 2015

14.8K
The HoneyComb Paradigm for Research on Collective Human Behavior
06:48

The HoneyComb Paradigm for Research on Collective Human Behavior

Published on: January 19, 2019

10.9K
Preparation of Single-cohort Colonies and Hormone Treatment of Worker Honeybees to Analyze Physiology Associated with Role and/or Endocrine System
08:53

Preparation of Single-cohort Colonies and Hormone Treatment of Worker Honeybees to Analyze Physiology Associated with Role and/or Endocrine System

Published on: September 6, 2016

15.1K

Area of Science:

  • Paleoanthropology
  • Nutritional Science
  • Behavioral Ecology

Background:

  • Honey is nature's most energy-dense food, making it a crucial resource for hunter-gatherer societies.
  • Honey consumption is widespread among foragers globally, with notable exceptions in arctic/subarctic regions where honey bees are scarce.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the significance of honey collection in hunter-gatherer diets.
  • To investigate the role of honey in the diet of the Hadza people of Tanzania.
  • To infer the historical consumption of honey by early human ancestors.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-cultural analysis of honey collecting practices among foragers.
  • Detailed ethnographic study of honey acquisition and consumption by the Hadza.
  • Comparative analysis with honey consumption in great apes.

Main Results:

  • Honey is a favorite food for both Hadza men and women, contributing substantially to their caloric intake.
  • Hadza men typically acquire more honey than women, often by climbing trees for large hives.
  • Honey consumption is prevalent in most warm-climate foragers and even in great apes.

Conclusions:

  • Honey has likely been a significant part of the human diet since early hominin ancestors.
  • Early hominins probably consumed more honey than great apes but less than modern human foragers.
  • The availability of honey is strongly linked to the presence of honey bees, influencing dietary patterns in different habitats.