Scientists have successfully cultivated plants from the 2000-year-old date palm seeds that they retrieved from the ancient ruins in southern Israel. They planted 32 seeds by carefully soaking them in water and fertilizer and managed to grow six of them. The research found ancient seeds up to 30 percent larger than the current date seeds, which meant the fruit was larger, too. Scientists are now discovering the factors behind the longevity of the seeds of ancient roman fruit which were gradually declined after the fall of the roman empire, the findings could help to improve the production of the crops on large scale.