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

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 Commiphora Jacq., sister to
three Southern African Commiphora species, but unique from all other
species sampled to date. The germinated seedling was not closely related
to Commiphora species commonly harvested for their fragrant oleoresins
including Commiphora gileadensis (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 Commiphora
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.