2023 The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc., A nonprofit 501 (c)(3) Charitable Organization. She lives in Ashland, Ohio, with her husband, Brandon, and their four children, Lydia, Elvis, Henry, and Izzy (their Westie). Hannahs DNA is reminiscent of that of ancient trees from Mesopotamia, todays Iraq, as is the modern zahidi variety, which is considered an Iraqi species. Methusaleh and all the ancient date trees can be visited by contacting Keren Kolot. After this process, one seed was found to be damaged and was subsequently discarded. Modern day studies have shown dates benefit digestion, lower cholesterol, improve memory, increase blood production, have aphrodisiac properties, and strengthen the nervous system. Sallon has a hypothesis regarding Hannahs ancestors. And though shes just nine-years-old, she carries an ancient heritage. Available at: https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/science/.premium-israeli-researchers-mate-2-000-year-old-date-seeds-hope-for-fruit-1.8503447, Kalman, M. (2005) Seed of extinct date palm sprouts after 2,000 years. SFGATE. Years ago at Masada, archaeologists found a jar of those ancient date seeds. A 15-year effort to germinate 2,000-year-old seeds from an ancient date palm is finally bearing fruit. The Judean dates from the time of Christ had long been considered extinct. Morphology of six germinated ancient Judean date seeds before planting. Scientists determined that Methuselah was of the Hayany breed originally from Egypt. They selected 34 seeds they thought were the most viable. Sallon, a medical doctor, started this project more than 15 years ago after becoming interested in natural medicine. Methuselah happens to be a male Judean date palm, so the team of scientists planted a few more seeds from the cache of ancient seeds unearthed in Herods palace excavation to see if they could propagate a bride for Methuselah. Five years ago, National Geographic reported that Methuselah was over ten-feet tall and had been used to pollinate a wild modern female date palm. Changes in weather and growing conditions combined with human activity are likely to blame for the disappearance of the Judean date palm sometime in the Middle Ages. A little, young-looking palm tree named Judith was planted on Kibbutz Ketura recently. The researchers conducted a series of tests to verify the age of the seeds, and it was confirmed through carbon 14 dating that they were more than 2,000 years old. ***Please sign up forCBN Newslettersand download theCBN News appto ensure you keep receiving the latest news from a distinctly Christian perspective.***. But all was not lost, because in 1963, the late archeologist Yigael Yadin began excavating Masada, a mountaintop fortress built over 2,000 years ago on the shore of the Dead Sea, where King Herod built a spectacular palace. Interesting Engineering reports that Recently, Hannah's fruit was harvested for the first time.. By bringing together top experts and authors, this archaeology website explores lost civilizations, examines sacred writings, tours ancient places, investigates ancient discoveries and questions mysterious happenings. On August 23rd, 2021, Arava Institute staff harvested three bunches of dates from our world-famous ancient date palms. In 2005, a team of scientists sprouted a preserved 2,000-year-old seed, the oldest seed germinated with human-assistance (with the claim in 2012 of a 32,000-year-old arctic flower involving fruit tissue rather than a seed). Methuselah was chosen to father the fruit and pollen from his plant was placed onto Hannah's flowers. Sarah M. Wells is the author ofThe Family Bible Devotionaland two collections of poems,Between the Heron and the MossandPruningBurning Bushes. This is something that came from the past and is still alive.. The seedlings would later be moved to Kibbutz Ketura. were collected from Judean desert archaeological sites such as an ancient palace-fortress built by King Herod and caves located in southern Israel at Masada, Qumran, Wadi Makukh, and Wadi Kelt, located in the Judean desert between the Judean Hills and the Dead Sea. Cultivation of dates in the region almost disappeared after the fourteenth century CE from a combination of climate change and infrastructure decay but has been revived in modern times. reported that Methuselah was over ten-feet tall and had been used to pollinate a wild modern female date palm. Last week, when the first dates ripened, a harvest was organized. The Judean Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) is known from historical accounts for its sweet, large fruit, which even had medicinal properties. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Dr. Studies indicate. During 19631965, excavations at Herod the Great's palace on Masada, Israel, revealed a cache of date palm seeds preserved in an ancient jar. [9] A 1974 study blames the 15th-century disappearance of date palms from the Jericho-Ein Gedi region on human activity, but Goor raises the possibility that the climate change led to the springs in the area delivering less water, which harmed the water-intensive cultivation of date palms.[9]. As part of this endeavor, Dr. Solowey succeeded in germinating one of these ancient date seeds in 2005, initially thought to be botanically impossible. In this age of global warming and species loss, I thought its important to try and bring back to life these ancient varieties. Methuselah is and for a long time researchers believed that this was the only Judean date palm they would ever see. Methuselah, Adam, and Hannah date back to the first to fourth centuries BCE. The Judean dates harvested from Hannah have a light brown skin, fibrous and chewy honey-colored flesh, and is less sweet than the popular Medjool date. In the future, the hope is for Methuselah, a male tree, to be bred with a female to produce the same date variety eaten commonly in ancient Judea, where it was valued as much for its delicious flavor as for its medicinal properties., We all know the resurrection story from 2,000 years ago described in the pages of the Christian bible. The Judean Date Palm symbolized ancient Judah and was mentioned in the Bible but when the nation it symbolized was conquered and sent into exile in 70 CE, cultivation of dates in the region began to decline. Growth and development of the seedling over 26 months was compatible with normal date . [13][15] Three of the seeds were subsequently planted at Ketura, Israel, in the Arabah in southern Israel. The seeds of Judean date palms turn out to have remarkable longevity. her team just so happens to have one other Judean date palm on hand in . Fifteen years ago, the first tree Solowey sprouted was a male. "I assumed the food in the seed would be no good after all that time. Female plants need male pollen to produce fruit, and all six of the new date palm trees are female, Sallon explains. Methuselah the Judean Date Palm is still going strong even after sprouting from a 2,000-year-old seed. Ancient Judean date palm trees resurrected from ancient seeds. It grew around the Dead Sea in the south, to the Sea of Galilee and the Hula Valley regions in the north. More than 850,000 date trees grow in Israel. To donate to Dr. Soloweys ancient dates research project, click here. The Judean Date Palm symbolized ancient Judah and was mentioned in the Bible but when the nation it symbolized was conquered and sent into exile in 70 CE, cultivation of dates in the region began to decline. Date palm cultivation is thought to be up to . Help us continue to be a voice for truth in the media by supporting CBN News for as little as $1. Some of the fruit were tasted, and some were sent for further research. The Judean date disappeared entirely, and this site is also in terrible danger of destruction. Their leaves will not wither nor their fruit fail; they will yield new fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the Temple. The species of palm was thought to be extinct for 800 . But the plant went extinct due to waves of conquest and intentional destruction. ', Israeli Researchers Mate 2,000-year-old Date Seeds, Hope for Fruit, Canaanite Palace Built on a Fault Was Destroyed by Quake 3,700 Years Ago, Scientists Find New Way Climate Change Can Ruin Life as We Know It. We are going to be testing those dates in the future to see actually what they do and whether they differ from other commercial varieties of modern dates. Norimitsu Odachi: Who Could Have Possibly Wielded This Enormous 15th Century Japanese Sword? Judith and Boaz date back to approximately mid-second century BCE. The first tree, Methuselah, was discovered to be male. After the successful germination of the first seed, Dr. Solowey and Dr. Sallon took to replicating the experiment. Judean Date Palm Grown From 2,000 Year Old Seed Bears Fruit. They selected 34 seeds they thought were the most viable. ( Arava Institute for Environmental Studies ). Watch the video below to learn more about the resurrection of this formerly extinct Judean date palm tree. Of these, six of the seeds successfully sprouted. Date Palm Sprouted from Ancient Seed Gives Fruit Like That of Bible Times In the middle of Israel's Arava Desert, a farming community is bringing trees back to life that's bearing fruit from the time of the Bible. [5], Climatological research has proven that immediately after 1000, the climate became colder and more humid, reaching a peak around 1600, followed by a century of severe heat and drought, and then again by colder times with more rainfall. Shes the fifth such tree to be planted there after Methuselah, Adam, Jonah and Hannah. In biblical times, the Judean date palm was revered throughout the region for its medicinal qualities. [19] As of February 2020, Methuselah had reached 3.5 metres (11ft). The Judean date palm was once common in ancient Judea. Scientists Grew Palm Trees From 2,000-Year-Old Seeds Judean dates were once renowned for their size and flavor Brigit Katz Correspondent February 7, 2020 These palms are a modern variety. Dr. Sallon, who researches natural medicine, is one of the few lucky ones to have had the opportunity to taste one of the 111 ancient Judean dates harvested in September at Kibbutz Ketura in southern Israel. The Romans eventually succeeded and by 500 AD the once plentiful date palm had almost completely disappeared, driven to extinction for the sake of conquest. The ancient fruit made tonics for longevity, laxatives, and aphrodisiacs; lore claims they could cure infections. And while some people may seem content with the story as it stands, our view is that there existcountless mysteries, scientific anomalies and surprising artifacts thathave yet to be discovered and explained. The tree and its fruit are mentioned in the Song of Songs and Psalms and featured on coins throughout the region. Hannah grew for six years, then flowered. AtAncient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. The species has earned the new name Judean date palm, along with the scientific name Phoenix dactylifera. Joanna Gillan is a Co-Owner, Editor and Writer of Ancient Origins. [8] Asaph Goor, in his 21-page article History of the Date through the Ages in the Holy Land, never mentions any such Roman devastation of the date palms, but rather cites numerous contemporary accounts attesting to the continuing extent of date cultivation through the Roman period. Fruit of the date palm was considered a staple food in the Judaean Desert, as it was a source of food and its tree of shelter and shade for thousands of years, and became a recognized symbol of the Kingdom of Judah. It is not clear whether there was ever a single distinct Judean cultivar, but dates grown in the region have had distinctive reputations for thousands of years, and the date palm was anciently regarded as a symbol of the region and its fertility. If this is indeed a specific species, the author should make that clear and name the species. Eventually, Hannah produced 111 dates weighing between 15 and 18 grams each. And Solowey and Salone are hoping eventually to add the revived Judean dates to the harvest. cultivation of dates in the region began to decline. The first of the ancient date seedlings, Methusaleh, is named for the oldest person mentioned in the Bible. The proud parents are date palms grown from ancient seeds uncovered in archeological excavations in Israel., Not as sweet as the Medjool date, not sticky at all, and with a pleasant honey aftertaste is how Dr. Sarah Sallon describes the taste of a date sprouted from a 2,000-year-old seed., So what do 2,000-year-old dates taste like? Source: Haaretz, Holloway, A. This week the Arava Institute celebrated the first Judean Dates ever to be grown into fruit since the time of King Herod." By June 2008, the tree had nearly a dozen fronds and was nearly 1.4 metres (4ft 7in) tall. trees were revealed by DNA testing as females, and one of them, Hannah, has borne one bunch with 111 dates, which were harvested in early September. We're talking about the resurrection of 2000-year-old plus ancient date seeds that come from the Judean Desert and from Masada and which are part of a scientific experiment, said Sarah Sallon, Director and Founder of The Natural Medicine Research Center at Hadassah Medical Organization, Jerusalem. In ancient times, the classical writers described in detail, the dates of ancient Judea. Get email notification for articles from Nir Hasson. ( The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies ) So valued was the tree that it became recognized as a symbol of good fortune in Judea. For thousands of years, the date palm was a staple crop. The two stories are related, she said, because people destroyed the trees and now the land. Germination of 2000-year-old seeds of Phoenix dactylifera from Judean desert archaeological sites provides a unique opportunity to study the Judean date palm, described in antiquity for the quality, size, and medicinal properties of its fruit, but lost for centuries. Understanding the Mysterious Kingdom of Shambhala, Alleged Sighting of the Mythical Manananggal in the Philippines Causes Public Anxiety, The Green Children of Woolpit: Legendary Visitors from Another World, The Evidence is Cut in Stone: A Compelling Argument for Lost High Technology in Ancient Egypt, Caesars Savage Human Skewers Unearthed In German Fort. And here we are actually planting history at the Arava Institute. Who would have thought seeds thousands of years old would germinate?!? Specimen Pindo Palm Tree can be seen on the University of Georgia campus in Athens, GA. Those date palms of modern day Israel are modern and they were imported after the founding of the State in the 1950s. The same is true for date palms. [26] They may have shared the same wild ancestor. Palm trees in the ruins of Babylon. YWAM Founder Loren Cunningham Diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer. Phoenix dactylifera and over 1000 other quality seeds for sale. [citation needed] The tree so defined the local economy that the Roman emperor Vespasian celebrated the reconquest after the First Jewish Revolt (6670 AD) by minting Judaea Capta coinage, a series of coins sometimes depicting Judaea as a mourning woman beneath a date palm. Most of the haul is being kept for science purposes. The palm tree can appear on the coin either in combination with the mourning woman, or without her. Throughout the history of civilization, the concept of the apocalypse has been ever present, in one way or another. [4], Its likeness was engraved on shekalim, the ancient Hebrew unit of currency. But now, after 2,000 years, the Judean date palm is back and the sweet ancient fruit has been harvested once again. Trees are like humans in that you need the pollen from a male tree to pollinate the flowers of a female plant. They were then dosed with Gibberellic acid, a growth-promoting plant hormone, and enzymatic fertilizer. That allowed them to be exported all over the Roman empire and they had medicinal qualities, Sallon said. According to historical sources, the taste of them was something splendid. See how the latest updates in Jerusalem and the world are connected to the prophecies we read in the Bible. The harvested dates are undergoing study regarding their properties and nutritional values. In the Kingdom of Judea it was a source of food, shelter, medicine, and shade. Haaretz Daily Newspaper Ltd. All Rights Reserved. They were the first dates to ripen from date palms grown from seeds that are more than 2,000 years old. The Judean date palm is a date palm ( Phoenix dactylifera) grown in Judea. Radiocarbon dating of the fragments of the seed shells still clinging to the roots of the plants confirmed the seeds date back to between 1,800 and 2,400 years ago. Call it Canaan, the Levant or the Ancient Near East; the region has always had a troubled history of warfare and invasions. Thegoal of Ancient Origins is to highlight recent archaeological discoveries, peer-reviewed academic research and evidence, as well as offering alternative viewpoints and explanations of science, archaeology, mythology, religion and history around the globe. The findings suggest that it might be a good option for examining the lifetime of plant seeds. [17] By November 2011 it was 2.5 metres (8ft 2in) high, having been transplanted from pot to earth. Dr. Sarah Sallon, the director of the Borick Natural Medicine Research Center at Hadassah University Hospital, and Dr. Elaine Solowey, who runs the Center for Sustainable Agriculture at the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies at Kibbutz Ketura, have so far successfully managed to germinate seven seeds, among dozens that they have attempted to revive. According to the researchers, they look similar to the Medjool date, but have a sweeter, honey-like flavor. The age of the seeds range from some of the oldest germinated seeds in the world - Methuselah, Hannah, and Adam with a carbon date to the first to fourth centuries BC, to the mid-second century BC to mid-first century AD plants known as Judith and Boaz, to the youngest of the Judean date palms - Uriel and Jonah are the youngest (first to second centuries AD). Researchers hold a date tree grown by a 2,000-year-old seed retrieved from archaeological sites in the Judean Desert, in Ketura, Israel, September 2, 2020. Israeli Scientists Found Out, Bottoms Up: Israeli Scientists Brew Beer With Resurrected Yeast From 5,000 Years Ago, Israeli DNA Study Unveils Reconstructed Face Of Mysterious, Long-Lost Human Relative. By Benjitheijneb (Own work) via Wikimedia Commons Get out the cigarsMethuselah, a. Medieval Sea Monster Was Likely a Whale, New Research Reveals, What is Shambhala? Now I need to buy some and try them! You Can at The Baobab Tree Bar, The Power of the Flying Rowan Tree, Woe of the Witches, https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/extinct-tree-resurrected-ancient-seeds-now-dad-002838, https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/science/.premium-israeli-researchers-mate-2-000-year-old-date-seeds-hope-for-fruit-1.8503447, https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Seed-of-extinct-date-palm-sprouts-after-2-000-2628668.php, https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/6/eaax0384, https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/palm-tree-0013259, Seleucid Sling Stone Sheds New Light on Jewish Hannukah Story, Rogue Priest Second Temple Silver Coin Found By Girl in Jerusalem, Evidence of Hannukah Story Found in Razed Hellenistic Fortress, New Study Reveals How Legendary Assyrian Siege Ramp Overcame Lachish, Mesopotamian Superpowers Laying Waste To The Ancient Near East. During Yigal Yadins excavations of Masada in the mid 1960s, ancient date seeds were discovered beneath rubble at the Northern Palace approach. A previous experiment with the seeds produced a single male plant that sprouted in 2005 which the researchers named Methuselah. Luckily two of the subsequent. Until Sallon initiated a project aimed at germinating ancient seeds to reintroduce extinct plants previously grown in the region and learn about their qualities. All kinds of trees for food will grow up on both banks of the stream. But it takes a lot of hard work, time, and money to do what we do. They are drier and sweeter than the medjool date and taste like natural honey. ( Marcos Schonholz ). Judean date palms are praised in the Bible. After all, it took 15 years of patience, hope, anticipation, and ground-breaking agriculture techniques to make the seemingly botanically impossible feat possible. In 2011, the plant produced its first flowers and today, the living archaeological treasure continues to grow and thrive. Elaine Solowey, Desert Plant Pioneer, successfully grew an extinct Judean Date Palm tree from a 2000 year old seed. Its fruit was a staple of the Judean Desert and grew in thick forests along the Dead Sea and Jordan River valley. I clicked on the link from Facebook because I remember date palms being grown and harvested in the San Diego area in the early 60's. Collect date seeds. Actually, this one came from Qumran -- was found in the caves -- and much to our astonishment, she also sprouted, said Elaine Solowey, the botanist who coaxed the seeds to grow. So far, we have five males and two females seven altogether, and I've tried lots of seeds and most of them are deader than door nails, Solowey said. Elaine Solowey of the Arava Institute of Environmental Studies with the tree named 'Judith. In biblical times, the Judean date palm was revered throughout the region for its medicinal qualities. You can use the pits from any fresh dates bought from the grocery store to grow a flourishing date palm. The other date palms to have sprouted from these ancient seeds are known as Adam, Hannah, Judith, Jonah, Boaz and Uriel. Sallon is hopeful that Hannah, a female date tree, will flower this year and the plant could be pollinated by Methuselah - a tree the team grew from a 1,900-year-old Judean date palm seed in 2008. A little, young-looking palm tree named Judith was planted on Kibbutz Ketura recently. The two researchers pollinated the flowers from Hannah with those of Methuselah to reconstruct the taste of ancient date palms to the maximum extent possible. And it is blossoming on Kibbutz Ketura in the Arava region, 40 minutes north of Eilat. But now, after 2,000 years, the Judean date palm is back and the sweet ancient fruit has been harvested once again. Prophecy from the Bible is revealing itself as we speak. (Guy Eisner / Sciencemag). symbolized ancient Judah and was mentioned in the Bible but when the nation it symbolized was conquered and sent into exile in 70 CE. After all, date palms are praised in the Bible as well as in Islam, Greek and Roman civilizations as symbols of beauty, fertility, peace, and victory. [3] Modern studies have been done in an attempt to confirm their medicinal value. For more information and/or interview requests, please contact Institute Deputy Director Eliza Mayo. Mother and Child Reunion Of Thetis And Achilles, Seductive Sirens of Greek Mythology and How Heroes Resisted Them, Celestial Goddess Selene: The Ancient Greek Goddess of the Moon, Pegasus of Greek Mythology: Majestic Winged Horse of Mount Olympus, Dreams of Human-Powered Flight: Daedalus and the Story of Icarus, The Warriors Who Shaped African History: The Horsemen of Oyo, Royal Mistress Jane Shore Walked Streets of London in her Underwear, Leonardo Da Vincis Notes Show He Understood Gravity Long Before Newton, Talks Begin on Repatriating Remains of Patrick Sarsfield, Irish War Hero, The Ramessid Dynasty: A Golden Era in Ancient Egypt, Unraveling the Mystery of the Carnac Stones: An Ancient Puzzle of Epic Proportions, Unraveling the Enigma of Aramu Muru, The Mysterious Gate of the Gods. But these werent ordinary dates. Were available 24/7. Solowey soaked the seeds in enzymatic water and fertilizer and planted them in sterile potting soil in pots in a greenhouse. I wanted to see how medicinal the flora of Israel was and what it had been used for and so on. [17][20] By 2015 Methuselah had produced pollen that has been used successfully to pollinate female date palms. And then I realized that many of these species had actually disappeared. Thank God for the faithfulness of his people though the ages - to leave these seeds, and to find and nurture one to grow. Plants have been produced from date palm seeds that have been buried for 2,000 years in old ruins and caves. The tree itself was a source of shelter, its fruit . This is the second year of harvesting fruit from this previously extinct tree, brought back to life by Dr. Elaine Solowey. We need a lot of data to do research on, to work out the properties, what the nutritional value is, says Sallon, a pediatric gastroenterologist who directs the Louis L. Borick Natural Medicine Research Center at the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem, as to why the bulk of the date harvest was taken to research labs. But as time progressed, the leaves began to look healthier. Because they were famous. In the mid-1900s, archaeologists discovered date palm seeds stored in an ancient jar in the ruins of the palace of Herod the Great in Masada, Israel. However, its value was also the source of its demise and eventual extinction. Both Adam and Jonah have produced flowers. In daily prayers, we note how the righteous (tzadik) will grow. 1. Though it was disputed for many years, there is conclusive evidence that Neanderthals bred with modern humans (Homo sapiens). When compared with three other cultivars of date palm, genetic tests showed the plant to be closely related to the old Egyptian variety Hayani, 19% of its DNA[clarification needed] being different, and an Iraqi cultivar (16% different DNA). [18] By May 2015, the palm was 3.0 metres (9.8ft) tall and was producing pollen. Architecture of the Floating (Or Sinking) City: How Was Venice Built? Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.. But centuries ago, the land that is now the United States was a very different place As Greek mythology goes, the universe was once a big soup of nothingness. Later this fall, the Arava Institute plans to offer a limited number of dates for sale at the Kibbutz Ketura guesthouse. Ancient Judean date palm trees resurrected from ancient seeds.