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→Early Use
==Early Use==
The earliest evidence for the use of honey comes from Spain (Figure 1), at about 8-9,0000 years ago. However, very likely the use of honey goes back much further. Neanderthals probably used honey as a food they gathered and even our nearest relatives in the ape family are known to utilize honey. Scientists estimate that the evolution for sweet tastes developed in our ancestors at about 15 million years, long before even apes arose. It is postulated that honey could have been a key factor in the evolution or desire for sweet foods that we have now inherited. The main reason is foods with fructose can be vital in periods when starvation is prevalent. It has high amounts of energy relative to the amount that one needs to consume to survive.
==Use in Historical Periods==
