Preserved Seed

A seed found in Jerusalem has sprouted and grown into a 3-foot tall Jerusalem palm. What’s so special about that? Carbon dating has found that the seed is 2000 years old, which makes it the oldest seed ever to germinate. Previously, a lotus seed from China held the title, at a measly 1300 years old, but grew with serious genetic abnormalities.

The oldest seed to ever germinate

It was one of four seeds of its kind found at the Masada fortress at the edge of the dead sea in Israel, and the only one to germinate.
It is nicknamed Methuselah after the oldest man in the bible, and is rumored to be a contemporary of Jesus. The extreme high temperatures and dryness of the region are the main factors contributing to it’s uniquely resilient preservation.

Scientists are hoping it’s a female, since the female of the variety are the ones to bear fruit. If it does provide us with dates, there is a possibility that it can be used for its medicinal properties. Scientists have already noticed that this palm is significantly different from the date palms of today, which hail from Israel; The dates of antiquity were thought to be good for fighting diseases like tuberculosis as well as for treating illnesses such as cancer.

Source: National Geographic