On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Sallon obtained five of those original seeds and gave them to Solowey. Both Adam and Jonah have produced flowers. The seeds were held in storage for 40 years at Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan.. The Israeli scientists and horticulturists are now trying to find a way to use the tissue culture and make hundreds of thousands of exact replicas of Hannah, the date-palm tree germinatedfrom a seed dating back two millennia. Credit: Sarah Sallon Ruth Schuster May 6, 2021 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. Researchers celebrate and sample the first fruit of palm trees germinated from ancient seeds from the Judean desert. SEE ALSO: Bottoms Up: Israeli Scientists Brew Beer With Resurrected Yeast From 5,000 Years Ago. reported that Methuselah was over ten-feet tall and had been used to pollinate a wild modern female date palm. This years harvest from Hannahproduced almost 700 dates (after 111 during last years first harvest), which were pollinated by Methuselah and two other ancient date palms named Adam and Jonah. Thick forests of the ancient date palms towering up to 80 feet (24.38 meters) and spreading for 7 miles (11.27) covered the Jordan River valley from the Sea of Galilee in the north to the shores of the Dead Sea in the south. In 2005, several of these seeds were obtained by the Louis L. Borick Natural Medicine Research Center of the Hadassah Medical Organization, which gave them to Dr. Elaine Solowey at the Center for Sustainable Agriculture. Hannah was the first female tree. The genome sequences of the ancient Judean date palms were compared to those of 110 contemporary Phoenix dactylifera varieties and other wild Phoenix species . Judean Date Palm Revived from Extinction by Emily Frances - i24, Sept. 14th, 2020 "Dr. Elaine Solowey, Desert Plant Pioneer, successfully grew an extinct Judean Date Palm tree from a 2000 year old seed. [20], As of 2012, there were tentative plans to crossbreed the male palm with what was considered its closest extant relative, the Hayani date from Egypt, to generate fruit by 2022; however, two female Judean palms have been sprouted since then. [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]. She writes and talks about the creativity and innovation taking place in Israel and beyond. I think thats why weve got such a tremendous response to bringing these dates back from extinction, she says. For more information and/or interview requests, please contact Institute Deputy Director Eliza Mayo. In 2005, Dr. Sarah Sallon challenged her friend and fellow scientist, Dr. Elaine Solowey from the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, to see if they could get any of the date palm seeds to grow. What is the origin of the legend of the Christed Son who was born of a virgin on December 25th? As of February 2020, Adam was 1.5 meters high (1.6 yards). Top Image: Methuselah is a Judean date palm grown from a 2,000-year-old seed found at Masada. Joanna completed a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) degree in Australia and published research in the field of Educational Psychology. 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. In the Kingdom of Judea it was a source of food, shelter, medicine, and shade. Ancient Chinese Earthquake Detector Invented 2,000 Years Ago Really Worked! The open hilltop, which is known as the Hill of Evil Counsel, is at the center of a battle that the neighborhood residents, including Sallon, are fighting against a construction project that they say will obliterate it. 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. And though shes just nine-years-old, she carries an ancient heritage. The harvested fruit is currently being analyzed for its nutritional value. Date Palm Sprouted from Ancient Seed Gives Fruit Like That of Bible Times, Jerusalem Dateline: 8/4/17 How the Dead Sea Is Giving Life, Revival Goes Nationwide, Hits Theaters After 'Jesus Revolution' Film as Well as ORU, Portland, Ohio State, Teen Witch Collapses on Church Doorstep, Finds Freedom from 'Torment' After Deal with the Devil, 'Great Peace in Jesus': Kelsey Grammer Gets Real About His Faith Journey with Jesus. Judith and Boaz date back to approximately mid-second century BCE. symbolized ancient Judah and was mentioned in the Bible but when the nation it symbolized was conquered and sent into exile in 70 CE. Shes the fifth such tree to be planted there after Methuselah, Adam, Jonah and Hannah. Sallon, who lives in Jerusalem, offered one to a friend, but because she is an observant Jew, she couldnt accept it because it wasnt properly tithed, as Jewish religious law requires. By the age of 10, most children in the United States have been taught all 50 states that make up the country. It included the Jewish Sheheheyanu prayer recited on momentous occasions, as well as the traditional offering and tithing ceremony. [21], As of 2019, altogether thirty-two Judean date palm seeds have been grown from locations in the Dead Sea area, and six saplings (Adam, Jonah, Uriel, Boaz, Judith, and Hannah) have survived. BEST OF 2021: Forests of Judean date palm trees once covered ancient Israel, from Lake Galilee to the Dead Sea. But I will secretly plant one of the seeds from Hannah here and hope that in another 20 years, it will produce fruit.. According to the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, Radiocarbon dating at the University of Zurich confirmed the seeds dated from between 155 BC to 64 AD. Phoenix dactylifera date or date palm is a flowering plant species in the palm family Arecaceae, cultivated for its edible sweet fruit. Norimitsu Odachi: Who Could Have Possibly Wielded This Enormous 15th Century Japanese Sword? They had experienced a very dry and sheltered environment for millennia. Medieval Sea Monster Was Likely a Whale, New Research Reveals, What is Shambhala? Younger Methuselah. After this process, one seed was found to be damaged and was subsequently discarded. But the plant went extinct due to waves of conquest and intentional destruction. The remaining 32 seeds were planted in a quarantined site at the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies in Kibbutz Ketura in southern Israel. See how the latest updates in Jerusalem and the world are connected to the prophecies we read in the Bible. Please check your information and try again or call us at 1-800-759-0700. until the 11th century C.E.but then it went extinct centuries ago. [18] By May 2015, the palm was 3.0 metres (9.8ft) tall and was producing pollen. Herod the Great was renowned for his ambitious projects and extravagant tastes. Seeds found in Judean desert are male and female, leading to hopes of producing dates. For thousands of years, the date palm was a staple crop. Nature has this immense power to renovate itself, to rejuvenate itself. Trees are like humans in that you need the pollen from a male tree to pollinate the flowers of a female plant. In Scripture, Hannah prayed and prayed for a child, promising that if God would answer that prayer, she would dedicate her child to a life of serving the Lord. It played a significant role in the Judean economy for about two millenniaat the least from the fifth century B.C.E. The date palms are named for Biblical figures. After eight weeks, a small green shoot emerged from one seed, producing a sapling no one had seen in centuries and becoming the oldest known tree seed to germinate. Help us continue to be a voice for truth in the media by supporting CBN News for as little as $1. After being kept in storage for over 40 years, a project initiated by Dr. Sallon, aimed to germinate ancient seeds found on archaeological sites in an effort to reintroduce extinct plants previously grown in the region. During Yigal Yadins excavations of Masada in the mid 1960s, ancient date seeds were discovered beneath rubble at the Northern Palace approach. You can help bring hope today! 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. This is something that came from the past and is still alive.. Collect date seeds. Now you say well, but we see dates all the way along here, palm trees and all the kibbutzim are growing plants. Long the only lonely representative of its kind, the Judean palm in now reproducing and giving researchers a unique glimpse back in time. A little, young-looking palm tree named Judith was planted on Kibbutz Ketura recently. You can use the pits from any fresh dates bought from the grocery store to grow a flourishing date palm. This is the second year of harvesting fruit from this previously extinct tree, brought back to life by Dr. Elaine Solowey. Some of the fruit were tasted, and some were sent for further research. Ancient Origins 2013 - 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. The ancient fruit made tonics for longevity, laxatives, and aphrodisiacs; lore claims they could cure infections. (DtoF) Boaz (54 months), Judith (47 months), and Hannah (88 months). According to historical sources, the taste of them was something splendid. 2023 The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc., A nonprofit 501 (c)(3) Charitable Organization. The Judean date palm was once common in ancient Judea. Joanna Gillan is a Co-Owner, Editor and Writer of Ancient Origins. Need prayer? 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 But these werent ordinary dates. Methuselah the Judean Date Palm is still going strong even after sprouting from a 2,000-year-old seed. In time, Hannah gave birth to a son, Samuel, who was the nazirite that chose Saul and David, the first two kings of Israel, for Gods people (1 Samuel 1). They were widely used for different kinds of diseasescancers, TB [tuberculosis]all kinds of problems., Harvested dates grown on the ancient Judean date palm. (Guy Eisner) Scientists have cultivated plants from date palm seeds that languished in ancient ruins and caves for 2,000 years. For the next four decades, the ancient seeds were kept in a drawer at Tel Aviv's Bar-Ilan University. I am sure you are familiar with his legend which states that he was born in a manger surrounded by shepherds, about Herod the Greats Alabaster Bathtubs, about Seleucid Sling Stone Sheds New Light on Jewish Hannukah Story, about Rogue Priest Second Temple Silver Coin Found By Girl in Jerusalem, about Evidence of Hannukah Story Found in Razed Hellenistic Fortress, about New Study Reveals How Legendary Assyrian Siege Ramp Overcame Lachish, about Mesopotamian Superpowers Laying Waste To The Ancient Near East, For Sale In Britain: A Small Ancient Man With A Colossal Penis, Sacred Marvels: 17 Cathedrals That Will Take Your Breath Away, In Pictures, Egyptologists Reveal a Lost Chamber in the Great Pyramid With Cosmic Rays, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Unleashing the End of the World. They nicknamed the tree Methuselah after Noahs grandfather, the oldest person who ever lived. In early 2019, three of the six trees named by Dr. Solowey Adam, Jonah and Hannah were moved out of their greenhouse home to be planted outdoors at the Arava Institutes Daniel Fischel & Sylvia Neil Research & Visitors Park. By Benjitheijneb (Own work) via Wikimedia Commons Get out the cigarsMethuselah, a. In biblical times, the Judean date palm was revered throughout the region for its medicinal qualities. Ancient Judean date palm trees resurrected from ancient seeds. 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. Thanks Jo. 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. The tree itself was a source of shelter, its fruit . This has been reissued in recently years as a 10 shekel coin. [24], Researchers at the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies at Kibbutz Ketura plan to grow dates resurrected from seeds found at archaeological sites in the Judaean Desert and Masada in large quantities using tissue culture, and then establish them in commercial plantations.[25]. A 15-year effort to germinate 2,000-year-old seeds from an ancient date palm is finally bearing fruit. And though shes just nine-years-old, she carries an ancient heritage., Its possible to divide the world in two: the part that venerates the humble-seeming fruit known as the date, and the part that does not. It is interesting to note that the Ezekiel prophesied that in the Messianic era, a river would flow from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea, revitalizing the saline water, transforming it into a thriving ecosystem. The Pindo Palm Tree is cold tolerant to USDA Zone 7. The date palm is one of the oldest cultivated fruit trees in the world and is highly symbolic in parts of the Middle East, as well as the Muslim, Christian and Jewish faiths. If this is indeed a specific species, the author should make that clear and name the species. Really? Eventually, Hannah produced 111 dates weighing between 15 and 18 grams each. Hannah wassprouted from a 2,000 year-old seed, and pollinated by another Ancient Judean date tree. CBN Partners provide hope to those who are suffering! They all sat in storage for over 40 years. And they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees; and they encamped there beside the water. Nefer Say Nefer - Was Nefertiti Buried in the Valley of the Queens? To read about Dr. Soloweys work to protect other endangered plant species click here. Stay informed with the latest from CBN News delivered to your inbox. Throughout the history of civilization, the concept of the apocalypse has been ever present, in one way or another. Mudlarker Finds Bronze Age Shoe on a UK Riverbank Dated 2,800 Years Old! The eastern ones are all the species from Arabia and Iraq, and the western ones are from North Africa, Sallon explained. The remaining 32 seeds were planted in a quarantined site at the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies in Kibbutz Ketura in southern Israel. A previous experiment with the seeds produced a single male plant that sprouted in 2005 which the researchers named Methuselah. Also available on most smart TVs and streaming services. The Judean date palm is a date palm ( Phoenix dactylifera) grown in Judea. The palm tree can appear on the coin either in combination with the mourning woman, or without her. In the paper published by Science Advances, the scientists say the genetic relationships between the ancient date and current varieties show Methuselah and Adam close to eastern modern varieties Fardh4 and Khalass, respectively, assigned to current Arabian Gulf varieties; Hannah and Judith related to modern Iraqi varieties Khastawi and Khyara, respectively; and Uriel, Boaz, and Jonah, the most western genotypes, related to modern Moroccan varieties, Mahalbit, Jihel, and Medjool, respectively.. For thousands of years, the date palm was a staple crop. Other date seeds were found in caves near the Dead Sea. Methusaleh was even given the Guinness WorldRecords designation as the oldest seed cultivated. Because several seedlings are female, it is hoped that it will be possible to pollinate one or more of the female Judean date palms with the pollen from Methuselah. Exodus 15:27. What cured here, she thinks, were some traditional herbal remedies., The date palm has a historical distribution stretching from Mauritania in the west to the Indus Valley in the east. I think the biggest problem is hydrating them because if you hydrate them too quickly, you kill them and you only get one crack at each seed, Solowey told CBN News. Judean date palms were wiped . 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France's University of Montpellier conducted genetic testing on the Judean date and found that it shares some qualities with the Iraqi Zahidi date as well as other date varieties that were once grown in ancient Mesopotamia, Arabia, and Pakistan. Germinated ancient Judean date seedlings. Its possible that they brought the seeds with them on their return to Zion, she said. But 800 years ago, crusaders destroyed the last Judean palm and rendered the plant extinct. [dubious discuss] Goor quotes several later, Ottoman-period travellers to the area as to the rarity of date palms, including Pierre Belon, who in 1553 scoffed at the idea that the region could have ever produced the bounty of dates reported in ancient sources.