Data from: Can a Commiphora seedling germinated from an ancient seed solve a Biblical mystery?

<p>A seed recovered during archaeological excavations of a cave in the Judean desert was germinated, with radiocarbon analysis indicating an age of 993 CE– 1202 calCE. DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis identified the seedling as belonging to the angiosperm genus <em>Commiphora</em> Jacq., sister to three Southern African <em>Commiphora</em> species, but unique from all other species sampled to date. The germinated seedling was not closely related to <em>Commiphora</em> species commonly harvested for their fragrant oleoresins including <em>Commiphora gileadensis </em>(L.) C.Chr., candidate for the locally extinct "Judean Balsam" or "Balm of Gilead" of antiquity. GC-MS analysis revealed minimal fragrant compounds but abundance of those associated with multi-target bioactivity and a previously undescribed glycolipid compound series. Several hypotheses are offered to explain the origins, implications and ethnobotanical significance of this unknown <em>Commiphora </em>sp., the first discovered at an archaeological site in this region, including identification with a resin producing tree mentioned in Biblical sources and a possible agricultural relationship with the historic Judean Balsam.</p>