As I write my historical fiction, I come across words and things new to me, so I must look them up. It’s amazing what one can learn by doing the research. If this question ever comes up on trivia night, I’ll have the answer!
Honey bees are in serious decline lately, but before 1620 there were none in the Americas, though other types of bees were here. English settlers introduced honeybees which spread slowly westward.
Hives with removable frames ( invented in the 18th century) are in use today. Before that, skeps were used to attract bees to create their honeycombs inside. Unfortunately, taking the honey and comb from skeps usually destroyed the bees. It took a lot of skill to save the bee colony.
For more about how peasants lived in the seventeenth century, visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1185865059974956
Answer: handmade skeps.
Jeanne Meeks ~ Fiction Author 