Philistines introduced sycamore, cumin and opium poppy into Israel during the Iron Age

Science Daily ^ | August 28, 2015 | Bar-Ilan University

[SunkenCiv]

The team compiled a database of plant remains extracted from Bronze and Iron Ages sites in the southern Levant, both Philistine and non-Philistine...

The species they brought are all cultivars that had not been seen in Israel previously... edible parts of the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) which originates in western Europe; the sycamore tree (Ficus sycomorus), whose fruits are known to be cultivated in the eastern Mediterranean, especially Egypt, and whose presence in Israel as a locally grown tree is first attested to in the Iron Age by the presence of its fruit; and finally, cumin (Cuminum cyminum), a spice originating in the Eastern Mediterranean...

In addition to the translocation of exotic plants from other regions, the Philistines were the first community to exploit over 70 species of synanthropic plants (species which benefit from living in the vicinity of man) that were locally available in Israel, such as Purslane, Wild Radish, Saltwort, Henbane and Vigna. These plant species were not found in archaeological sites pre-dating the Iron Age, or in Iron Age archaeological sites recognized as belonging to non-Philistine cultures -- Canaanite, Israelite, Judahite, and Phoenician. The "agricultural revolution" that accompanied the Philistine culture reflects a different agrarian regime and dietary preferences to that of their contemporaries.

The fact that the three exotic plants introduced by the Philistines originate from different regions accords well with the diverse geographic origin of these people. The Philistines... integrated with Canaanite and other local populations, finally to disappear at the end of the Iron Age (ca. 600 BCE).

[SunkenCiv]

This is the structure of Iron Age Floral List at each site. Circle size reflects the total number of new plant species recognized in Iron Age sites. Red indicates new species that appeared only in Philistine Iron Age sites. Green indicates species that appeared only in non-Philistine Iron Age contexts. Blue denotes species shared by Philistine and non-Philistine sites. The three numbers represent the quantity of Philistine species/non-Philistine species/shared species, at a site. Credit: Map produced by M. Frumin using ArcGIS for Desktop (ArcMap 10.1), ESRI.

[SunkenCiv]

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[SunkenCiv]

[Red Badger]

Just so everybody knows, Ficus sycomorus is not the North American Sycamore we all know. It is a fruit tree...............Apparently what Zaccheus climbed in to to see Jesus................

[MUDDOG]

Confessions of a Philistine Opium-Eater.

[dfwgator]

Apart from the sycamore, the cumin and the opium poppy, what have the Philistines EVER done for us?

[xp38]

So Goliath was high?

[BenLurkin]

Ficus sycomorus

Range

[muir_redwoods]

Im guessing from the Latin name, its a variety of fig

[Red Badger]

Yes, it’s also called the Sycamore Fig..............

[SunkenCiv]

Plane trees weren’t known to the Persians — when they conquered Lydia (which lay in Anatolia, part of Turkey today) the Persian king was quite taken with them; the story I remember reading (high school’s been a while) — a hollow sycamore was found that was so large inside the trunk that a dinner for the king and 12 guests was given.

[SunkenCiv]

Nice, something new for today:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ficus_sycomorus

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platanus

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks BenLurkin. One pic I just saw has fruit that looks like a pomegranate (which is related to the fig anyway, if memory serves).

[SunkenCiv]

:’)

[SunkenCiv]

“Giving Goliath His Due”:

http://www.researchgate.net/publication/281052439_Giving_Goliath_His_Due_New_Archaeological_Light_on_the_Philistines

http://www.andrews.edu/library/car/cardigital/Periodicals/AUSS/1994-1/1994-1-12.pdf

[SunkenCiv]

Here are the earlier fig cultivation topics:

• Was Fig First Fruit Of Man's Agricultural Endeavours?
• Figs said to be first domesticated crop
• Early Fig Farming
• Archaeologists find possible evidence of earliest human agriculture

[Twinkie]

In the book of Revelation, a certain tree is listed as being shipped from “Babylon” to the merchants of the world. That tree only grows in the Middle East; not in America. So, from that, I have to conclude that “Babylon” is in the Middle East and not New York as many seem to wish it to be.

[colorado tanker]

Figs and prosciutto, a match mad in heaven, or at least in Italy.

[SunkenCiv]

Obviously, since America isn’t mentioned in the Bible.

[SunkenCiv]

Great, now I’m hungry...