Grain farming pushed back 10000 years

June 27, 2004 2:46 PM

Farming origins gain 10,000 years. Humans made their first tentative steps towards farming 23,000 years ago, much earlier than previously thought. Stone Age people in Israel collected the seeds of wild grasses some 10,000 years earlier than previously recognised, say experts.
posted by stbalbach (8 comments total)

Don't you mean palistine?
posted by delmoi at 3:16 PM on June 27, 2004

delmoi, if you're going to troll, at least get your spelling right.
posted by signal at 4:21 PM on June 27, 2004

an your history too
posted by Postroad at 5:28 PM on June 27, 2004

Facts are only correct when they are politically correct.
posted by stbalbach at 5:48 PM on June 27, 2004

delmoi, try the history of Palestine.

Then you'll really be able to stick it to the Man.
posted by the fire you left me at 5:56 PM on June 27, 2004

Maybe try a quick primer on Natufian culture.

That said; interesting link stbalbach.
posted by snarfodox at 7:15 PM on June 27, 2004

Actually, the site appears to be within the original borders for Israel (or at least as far as there can be original borders for any post-colonial state) according to the web site for the Ohalo Field Station. Among other curious facts, the site is only accessible during periods of severe drought.

One of the things that I find interesting is how every year there seems to be a new find that pushes the timeline for civilization back a few thousand years. I'm wondering how much the fertile crescent gets the title of cradle of civilization based primarily on the durability of mud brick construction.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 7:43 PM on June 27, 2004

Manna is described in Jewish literature, at least, as "plate-like" or "scale-like" food. I wonder which one of the grains described in the article it could be.
posted by DenOfSizer at 3:14 PM on June 28, 2004