Fossil pollen reveals the secrets of the Royal Persian Garden at Ramat Rahel, Jerusalem

Fossil pollen analysis has unveiled the composition of the Royal Persian Garden at Ramat Rahel, Jerusalem, dating back to the fifth to fourth centuries BCE. This groundbreaking research, using a unique method to extract fossil pollen from ancient plaster, identified exotic trees such as citron (Citrus medica), cedar, birch, and Persian walnut, marking their earliest appearance in the southern Levant. The study suggests these imported species were likely used to display the power of the imperial Persian administration. Additionally, native fruit trees and ornamentals like fig, grape, olive, willow, poplar, myrtle, and water lily were also found. This discovery opens new avenues for studying the symbolic role of flora in palatial gardens and the proliferation of plants across geographical areas.

Langgut, D., Gadot, Y., Porat, N., & Lipschits, O. (2013). Fossil pollen reveals the secrets of the Royal Persian Garden at Ramat Rahel, Jerusalem. Palynology, 37(1), 115–129. https://doi.org/10.1080/01916122.2012.736418