This video [02:30], published by the YouTube channel “Israel,” illustrates how an entire history can be found inside of one small seed. The archaeologist,Yigal Yadin, known for leading the excavation of the Dead Sea Scrolls in the 1960s, also found thousands of ancient date seeds during the excavation.
Fast forward to 2005. Through agricultural technological innovation, scientists were able reconnect to the past by germinating and replanting one of the edible varieties of the 2000-year-old seeds. This seed can can tell us a lot about the dietary habits of the ancient residents living in the Judean Desert. Today, this date palm stands three meters high, as a sign of hope to bring deeper understanding of the residents’ ancient lifestyle and the extinct plant species.