From Cave to Canopy: 1,000-Year-Old Tree

An international team of botanists, agriculturists, and historians has successfully cultivated a mature tree from an ancient seed discovered in a cave in Israel. In their study published in the journal Communications Biology, they detail the seed's location, the efforts made to trace its origins, and what they learned about its history as it sprouted and developed into a mature tree.

In the 1980s, researchers digging in a cave in the Judean Desert found a seed that was later dated to between 993 and 1202 AD, making it roughly 1,000 years old. Tests indicated that the seed was still viable, leading the team to plant and nurture it. After some time, it sprouted, and now, fourteen years later, the tree has reached maturity.

The tree, named Sheba, stands around 3 meters tall and features lush green leaves. As it grew, the researchers studied its wood, resin, and leaves, discovering that the tree type is now extinct.

They also identified pentacyclic triterpenoids—compounds recognized for their anti-inflammatory effects on humans—and a type of squalene, known for its antioxidant properties and use in skin care.

The discovery of the seed in a cave suggests that ancient inhabitants of the region may have planted these trees, indicating their awareness of its medicinal benefits. The researchers hypothesize that the resin might be the "tsori" medicinal compound mentioned in the Bible.

Additionally, they determined that the tree belongs to the genus Commiphora, which is related to frankincense and myrrh. However, its specific species remains unknown since the tree has not yet flowered, which limits the study of its reproductive characteristics.

These findings suggest that this tree represents an extinct lineage that once thrived in the region, although the reasons for its extinction are still unclear.