Bringing Something Extinct Back to Life Again

Archaeologists were digging on a Menominee reservation in Wisconsin in 2008 when they made a rather startling discovery. Although at first, it simply looked like an old clay pot it was actually 800 years old, and inside, it contained a rather rare treasure. In fact, the treasure is enough to make us rethink a number of things, including our current thoughts on food storage, preservation and extinction.

Although it may seem odd that a clay pot from eight centuries ago would be enough to change our thoughts today, it shouldn’t surprise us. After all, decisions that were made in past centuries are still affecting us today, including where we live in the world! Once you discover what was found in the clay pot, you will become a believer.

This is the clay pot that had been hidden under the earth on the Menominee reservation in Wisconsin.

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Inside a clay pot, a stash of seeds was found! More than likely, they were buried with the clay pot as a way of storing the food supplies. What was most surprising is the fact that the seeds belong to a now extinct species of squash.

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If that wasn’t enough, students in Winnipeg made the decision to plant the seeds. Even though the seeds were 800 years old, something started growing!

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This new (actually old) species of squash has been named Gete-okosomin. In the Menominee language, it means “Big Old Squash”

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Work is currently underway to cultivate the squash in an effort to keep it from going extinct again.

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Although many people would consider it to be “just a squash,” it is actually a piece of living history. It belongs to the first Nations’ community and is truly a testimony to how amazing plants can be.

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It seems as if history has a sense of humor but we can be thankful that it does. After all, we now get to enjoy a piece of history on our dinner plate!

Be sure to share this fascinating story with others…