The date palms are named for Biblical figures. By June 2008, the tree had nearly a dozen fronds and was nearly 1.4 metres (4ft 7in) tall. A team led by Sarah Sallon, which planted these six trees, first tried in 2005 to germinate a 2,000-year-old seed from the . They called him Methuselah after the oldest person in the Bible. However, despite this, extensive cultivation persisted in Jericho and Zoara, until the agrarian economy collapsed during Mamluk rule around the 14th century, which he attributes to a change in the climate. The remaining 33 were carefully soaked in water and fertilizer to encourage germination. In ancient times the Judean date palm was a staple source of food, shelter, and shade. In addition to its honoured place in the history of Judea, the palm may contribute useful characteristics, such as environmental tolerance and disease resistance, to modern date cultivars. A little, young-looking palm tree named Judith was planted on Kibbutz Ketura recently. 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. 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. A little, young-looking palm tree named Judith was planted on Kibbutz Ketura recently. Dr. Tareq Abu Hamed, Director of the Arava Institute at Kibbutz Ketura, sees this as. These semi-dry dates with a reddish blonde color were recently harvested. Dubbed Methuselah it was the oldest seed ever grown attracting wide international attention. And we knew what there was, because it's mentioned in the Bible. Great piece I had no idea about such amazing botanical work going on. Herod the Great was renowned for his ambitious projects and extravagant tastes. [10] The plant was nicknamed "Methuselah" after the longest-lived person listed in the Bible. Judith and Hannah were female, but only Hannah flowered. It would be interesting if they were used back then for the same reasons, she tells NoCamels during a phone call from her Jerusalem home. The Judean date disappeared entirely, and this site is also in terrible danger of destruction. Photo: CBN News, Error: There was an internal error submitting your form. A Blazing Weapon: Unraveling the Mystery of Greek Fire. 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. CBN Partners provide hope to those who are suffering! Save the date: Long-lost fruit trees sprout from 2,000-year-old seeds 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. Those date palms of modern day Israel are modern and they were imported after the founding of the State in the 1950s. 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. We are committed to delivering quality independent Christian journalism you can trust. Government Bouncers on Your Church's Front Door? However, its value was also the source of its demise and eventual extinction. She has a rich and varied career, ranging from teaching Read More. [20] The genomes of these Judean date palms germinated from ancient seeds were sequenced and analyzed. Source: Haaretz, Holloway, A. During Yigal Yadins excavations of Masada in the mid 1960s, ancient date seeds were discovered beneath rubble at the Northern Palace approach. For the next four decades, the ancient seeds were kept in a drawer at Tel Aviv's Bar-Ilan University. The remaining 33 were carefully soaked in water and fertilizer to encourage germination. Scientists in Israel grow date plants from 2,000-year-old seeds. The species of palm was thought to be extinct for 800 years but hundreds of seeds of Phoenix dactylifera 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. Judean date palms are praised in the Bible. According to Jewish tradition, the Children of Israel came out of Egypt with date palm saplings that were eventually planted in the land of Israel. Yes, the New York Times justbroke the storyof the children of Methuselah and Hannah, biblical date trees (that didnt meet on JDate) with some impressive history and something to teach at this perilous time as a lead up to the Jewish New Year., Just 30 miles north of the Red Sea, in the Negev Desert, scientists from the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies travelled back in time two millennia, becoming the first people to pick and sample dates from trees with roots stretching back to the days of Jesus and the Maccabees., Dr. Methusaleh and all the ancient date trees can be visited by contacting Keren Kolot. (DtoF) Boaz (54 months), Judith (47 months), and Hannah (88 months). Scientists determined that Methuselah was of the Hayany breed originally from Egypt. The harvested dates are undergoing study regarding their properties and nutritional values. Scientists Resurrect Mysterious Judean Date Palms From Biblical Era Methuselah the tree was grown from a 2,000-year-old seed found at Masada. [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. The Judean Date Palm: Extinct Tree Resurrected from Ancient Seeds Who Destroyed the Great Library of Alexandria? 2,000-Year-Old Seed Sprouts, Sapling Is Thriving - Science Ms. Solowey chose Methuselah to be the father, and she moved pollen from him onto Hannahs flowers. Israeli scientists found out, The Resurrection of 2000-Year-Old Ancient Date Seeds: New Fruit Sprouts from Bible Times Source. Theres a resurrection story you probably havent heard coming out of Judea. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. Now I need to buy some and try them! Dates tree grown by a 2,000-year-old seed retrieved from archaeological sites in the Judean Desert, in Ketura, Israel, September 2, 2020. The tree itself was a source of shelter, its fruit . Phoenix dactylifera - Tree - Date Palm :: Seeds for Sale, Tree seeds Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing. Ezekiel 47:12. ( Marcos Schonholz ). Masada was the last stand of a small band of Jewish rebels who held out against three Roman legions for several years before committing mass suicide in 73 AD. In daily prayers, we note how the righteous (tzadik) will grow. Because they were famous. A little, young-looking palm tree named Judith was planted on Kibbutz Ketura recently. Norimitsu Odachi: Who Could Have Possibly Wielded This Enormous 15th Century Japanese Sword? 32 additional intact seeds were chosen, out of which 6 sprouted. Last week, when the first dates ripened, a harvest was organized. Tree Grown From 2,000-Year-Old Seed Has Reproduced In June of 2020, Hannah became the first Judean date palm tree, resurrected from the dust of ancient seeds, to bear fruit. Researchers revived a 2,000-year-old palm from seeds found inside an ancient Judean jar. So valued was the tree that it became recognized as a symbol of good fortune in Judea. Children today are the stewards of this planet. A Long-Lost Legendary Roman Fruit Tree Germinated From 2,000-Year-Old Seeds Now You Can, Thanks to These Israeli Researchers Researchers celebrate - and sample - the first fruit of palm trees germinated from ancient seeds from the Judean desert Dates tree grown by a 2,000-year-old seed retrieved from archaeological sites in the Judean Desert, in Ketura, Israel, September 2, 2020. Credit: Marcos Shonholtz Nir Hasson One that disappeared centuries ago was the Judean date. After 2,000 years, the formerly extinct Judean date palm was brought back to life by two women scientists in 2005. Ancient Chinese Earthquake Detector Invented 2,000 Years Ago Really Worked! Are the Misty Peaks of the Azores Remnants of the Legendary Atlantis? This week the Arava Institute celebrated the first Judean Dates ever to be grown into fruit since the time of King Herod., They were given Biblical names: Adam, Boaz, Hannah, Jonah, Judith and Uriel. Modern day studies have shown dates benefit digestion, lower cholesterol, improve memory, increase blood production, have aphrodisiac properties, and strengthen the nervous system. Methuselah was grown from a seed that was discovered at the archaeological excavations at Masada, while Hannah is from a seed discovered a little further north along the Dead Sea at Qumran, the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. CBN News got its first look ten years ago when Methuselah was still in the lab. By the age of 10, most children in the United States have been taught all 50 states that make up the country. As of February 2020, Adam was 1.5 meters high (1.6 yards). References to it are made in the Bible, the Koran, and other ancient literature. The Date Palm - Way of Life Researchers celebrate and sample the first fruit of palm trees germinated from ancient seeds from the Judean desert. Solowey soaked the seeds in enzymatic water and fertilizer and planted them in sterile potting soil in pots in a greenhouse. Until Sallon initiated a project aimed at germinating ancient seeds to reintroduce extinct plants previously grown in the region and learn about their qualities. These unique dates are currently being kept cool in storage. Call (800) 700-7000 or request prayer. The species has earned the new name Judean date palm, along with the scientific name Phoenix dactylifera. Sallon says the dates seem to offer hope in todays world of uncertainty. Sallon, a medical doctor, started this project more than 15 years ago after becoming interested in natural medicine. 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