2,000-Year-Old Palm Seed Sprouts in Israel, Sapling Is Thriving

A sapling germinated earlier this year from a 2,000-year-old date palm seed is thriving, according to Israeli researchers who are cultivating the historic plant.

"It's 80 centimeters [3 feet] high with nine leaves, and it looks great," said Sarah Sallon, director of the Hadassah Medical Organization's Louis L. Borick Natural Medicine Research Center (NMRC) in Jerusalem.

Several ancient date seeds were taken from an excavation at Masada, a historic mountainside fortress, where in 73CE Jewish zealots took their own lives rather than surrender to the Romans.