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Prophetic? Ancient Judean Tree Seed Sprouts, Blossoms and Now Flourishing

Teresa Neumann : Oct 8, 2013
Staff – Popular Archaeology

Ancient Hebrews considered the Judean date palm tree the "tree of life."

Date Palm(Israel)—In 1973, archaeologist Ehud Netzer and his team uncovered a 2,000-year-old clay jar filled with seeds. The ancient seeds were subsequently stored away in Tel Aviv at Bar-Ilan University, until, in 2005, botanical research Elaine Solowey at Hadassah Hospital was given one for an experimental planting. (Photo: David Blumenfeld/The Chronicle)

Date PalmTold she was "mad" for thinking the seed would ever sprout, Solowey went ahead and did the "impossible," planting the seed in a pot at Kibbutz Ketura. It sprouted into a seedling and produced its first blossom in 2011 and now reportedly "flourishes as a young date palm tree." (Photo: Benjtheijneb, Wikimedia Commons)

Not surprisingly, it was given the name Methuselah.

According to a report in Popular Archaeology, Methuselah looks just like other modes date palm trees, with one, "very unusual" difference; a third leaf.

The report also notes that the Judean date tree has many remarkable healing properties and that for Christianity; it has long "been regarded as a symbol of peace."