At 2000 Years Old, A Date Palm Seed Is The Oldest Seed To Germinate

When scientists explored the ruins of Masada Fortress in 1960s, they found artifacts in which, among others, several seeds of an ancient date palm.

Recently, the seeds were planted in soil and it results in one seed to germinate.

Carbon dating were then conducted on the remaining seeds that did not germinate and the result shows that the seeds were approximately 2000 years old.

The date palm (pictured below) is named Methusaleh and is currently holding the title the oldest seed to germinate after a 1300 year old lotus seed which was found in China.

Sources: 1, 2