Posted on 12/19/2009 8:13:11 PM PST by SunkenCiv
A 4,000-year-old lentil seed unearthed in an archeological excavation has successfully sprouted after being planted. Project leader and Dumlupınar University archeology faculty Professor Nejat Bilgen said they found the seeds during an excavation undertaken last year in Kütahya province. Bilgen said a layer from the container in which they found the seeds was determined to be from the middle bronze age. He said his team found many seeds, but most had been burnt, adding that they had failed to make the others turn green before the recent success. The excavation team believes they found a silo because there were many other containers around... Nükhet Bingöl, an assistant professor from the same department, said she planted one of the seeds last year but that it dried up after germinating, adding that she sent another to Istanbul for fat analyses... Bingöl said the lentil is pretty weak -- unlike its modern day versions -- yet they hope it will be able to flower and produce seeds. If that happens, according to Bingöl, they would have extremely important data to compare with the organic and genetically engineered plants of today... Bingöl said the lentil is a plant that does not require much water and heat to grow, so it is very likely that they were planted near the excavation area. "Barley, lentil, wheat, all of these originated in Anatolia," said Bingöl... Bingöl said there are domestic and foreign examples of centuries-old plants germinating, adding that Japan's magnolia plant has different qualities than today's magnolia plant in other parts of the world.
(Excerpt) Read more at hurriyetdailynews.com ...
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To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. |
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soups on!
I could go for some lentil soup, right now...
Dad’s sister makes a wonderful version. I should get her recipe again. Lost it.
I love to hear that some of the ancient genomes have been preserved like this, giving us both a window into the actual early diets vs what passes for the 'same' crop today; and to have a 'back up copy' in safe storage.
I checked for an update on the "Methusalah date", but nothing new since June, 2008; it was then about 4'-5' tall, and still not able to be sexed.
Wonder if a seed could carry a unwelcome visitor?
I have a keen interest in those sorts of things, too.
WOW.
Interesting question.
Neat!
Lentils show up on alot of lists of things that are in the highest-nutrition category.
Also broad beans (lima beans).
While not in the 4000 year old class, the so-called Anasazi bean has an interesting history (some say mythology) They are reputed to have been found in a sealed jar in a cave by archeologists and then germinated.
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-anasazi-beans.htm
All I know is they are great tasting sweet beans that cook fast without soaking (perfect for the high plateaus of Western America or my bachelor kitchen and are supposed to be unusally high protein and low in gas production. That’s nice too.
They used to be found only in Organic food stores and the like but now can be found in most grocery stores.
I’ve seen that in seed catalogs before, always figured that it (and now, this lentil) was a crock, since beans don’t last as long as, say, certain tomato seeds, which don’t drop below 50 percent germ rate for about 260 years.
I lovvvve lima beans.
Not long ago I picked up a bag of red lentils, which are just neat-looking, but of course I will cook them...
I’m not eatin’ it ‘til it’s cooked. ;’)
I’ve had dhal before, a girlfriend made it for me, I think her name was Barbie...
Uh-oh, I didn’t check to see if you’d seen this...
Ditto on the lima beans!
Plus, they are so versatile. Eat them standalone, in soups, with meats, have a cup on the side with eggs fer breakfast!
Truly one of mankinds staple foods.
It is, alas, one of those foods that people either love or hate — it is difficult I think to find anyone who will say of lima beans, “I can take ‘em or leave ‘em.” ;’)
There have been some on AIDs ‘tainted’ organs. Was that what you were thinking of?
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