Scientists Grow 1,000-Year-Old Seed Found in Cave in Israel—Say It Could Lead to Lost Biblical Tree

Scientists Grow 1,000-Year-Old Seed Found in Cave in Israel—Say It Could Lead to Lost Biblical Tree
A tree was germinated from a seed carbon dated to around 1,000 years ago. Illustration by The Epoch Times, with photos by Guy Eisner/Creative Commons 4.0
Michael Wing
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A seed smaller than a fingernail was carried by a bird or critter and deposited into a cave in Israel 1,000 years ago but germinated into a tree after modern archeologists discovered and planted it. In it lies a mystery: A Bible verse mentions a tree of its description; could it be the venerated Judean Balsam tree, whose fragrant sap once served as medicine and was highly treasured?

The Three Magi brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh to baby Jesus—so the Bible says. The latter two resins, prized for their scent, have been known to ooze forth from punctured bark on trees of the Commiphora genus. While some species of Commiphora still grow, others are believed to be long extinct, gone since Biblical times. However, in the late 1980s, an archeological dig may have unearthed a lost Biblical secret: the aforementioned seed, well-preserved in a cave in a desert valley.

Michael Wing
Michael Wing
Editor and Writer
Michael Wing is a writer and editor based in Calgary, Canada, where he was born and educated in the arts. He writes mainly on culture, human interest, and trending news.
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