A Tree Was Grown From A 1,000-Year-Old Seed Found In A Cave In Israel
A mature tree has successfully been grown from an ancient seed found in a cave in Israel. The tree was mentioned in Biblical texts, and its resin could be the source of a medicinal balm that was highly prized in the ancient world.
In the late 1980s, researchers were excavating a cave in the Judean Desert in Israel when they uncovered a strange seed dating back between 993 and 1202 A.D., making it about 1,000-years-old.
When they tested the seed, they discovered it was still viable, so they went ahead and planted it. Soon enough, it sprouted.
After 14 years of tending to the tree, it has finally grown to maturity. The research team has named the tree Sheba.
It stands at nearly 10 feet tall and has green leaves on its branches. DNA analysis of the tree’s wood, leaves, and resin has revealed that its type is now extinct.
It belongs to the Commiphora family, which is distributed across Africa, Madagascar, and the Arabian Peninsula. It is in the same family as frankincense and myrrh.
The team also found evidence of pentacyclic triterpenoids—compounds that are known for reducing inflammation.
In addition, they discovered an oil type, a squalene that is an antioxidant and has been used as a skin treatment.
Since the seed was in a cave, it suggests that ancient people living in the region planted such trees and knew about their medicinal properties.
zaikanata – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only
The researchers suspect that the resin from trees like Sheba was cultivated for the “Judean Balsam” in the desert region of the southern Levant during Biblical times.
“‘Sheba,’ an unknown Commiphora species with a unique genetic fingerprint, may represent an extinct taxon once native to this region whose resin ‘tsori’ mentioned in Biblical texts was valuable, associated with healing but not described as fragrant,” said the researchers.
According to The Independent, the Judean Balsam has been described in literature from Hellenistic, Roman-Byzantine, and Post-Classical periods between the 4th century B.C. and the 8th century A.D.
In Biblical texts, the resin is referred to as “tsori.” It was cherished in the ancient world and was exported throughout the Roman Empire.
Prior research indicated that it was used as incense, perfume, cataract medicine, antidotes to poison, and embalming agents.
By the 9th century, the Judean Balsam disappeared from the Levant region despite its importance. It is unclear why the trees went extinct.
So far, the species of the sapling is still a mystery because it has not yet produced flowers or fruit, preventing the researchers from studying its reproductive features.
They speculate that the environment where it is currently growing may not be suitable for its flowering and reproduction.
The findings were published in the journal Communications Biology.
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