How long has mankind use honey as food?

Humans have used and enjoyed honey for thousands of years, and there are many examples throughout the world of ancient cultures that highly regarded honey both for its delicious tast as its medicinal properties. The human use of honey can be traced back at least 8000 years, with archaeological evidence including rock paintings in Spain that depict honey gathering. Honey was used by the ancient Egyptians as a sweetener and a preservative, and is mentioned in the ancient medical texts of Greece, Rome and China.