How long have figs been around?

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Encanto Farms Nursery > Topics > How long have figs been around?

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tmc2009

Registered:1305513080
Posts: 854

Posted 1344872184	Reply with quote #1

I was trying to recall the last story I read about how long man has been eating or at least cultivating figs and came across this article about how long the fig wasp has been around. http://www.futurity.org/science-technology/34-million-year-old-fig-wasp-fossil-found/ __________________ Tom Massachusetts Zone 6b

hoosierbanana

Registered:1287901146
Posts: 2,186

Posted 1344882021	Reply with quote #2

I saw a fossilized fig on eBay years ago and am still kicking myself for not buying it. It is amazing how figs come in so many different forms, but the wasp is still basically the same for all species. I guess because all figs are more or less the same... ostiole, interior cavity and flowers. __________________ 7a, DE

pitangadiego

Moderator
Registered:1188871011
Posts: 5,447

Posted 1344883156	Reply with quote #3

I seem to remember Adam and Eve sewing figs leaves together, so apparently they have been around since the beginning. __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com http://figs4fun.com http://webebananas.com "pitangadiego" everywhere

satellitehead

Registered:1257988353
Posts: 3,687

Posted 1344889629	Reply with quote #4

Haha, too funny Jon. Indeed. I've read estimates that they've been propagated and cultivated by humanoids for upwards of 10,000+ years. Here's an interesting story from NPR on ancient figs found in an 11,400 year old house: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5446137 There's a lot more out there that puts that number even farther back, but ... figs are considered by many to be the first known cultivated fruit crop. __________________ Jason Atlanta/Grant Park area - z8

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