Why do desert oases have dates?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

December 23, 2003

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~

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The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera Linnaeus) is as mysterious as the arid lands the palm now calls home. According to Geoff Sanderson, the oldest archaeological evidence of date palm cultivation is from the city of Ur in Mesopotamia during the third millennium BCE. Date pits (seeds) discovered in ancient human habitations carbon-date to the fifth millennium, indicating that very early civilizations gathered and enjoyed these sweet drupes (single seeded fruits). ("Natural History of the Date Palm, Phoenix dactylifera", Geoff Sanderson, ENHG, Aug. 2001)

Date Tree and Fruit,Early Nineteenth Century

The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera Linnaeus) is as mysterious
as the arid lands the palm now calls home.
Date Tree and Fruit, Early Nineteenth Century
Framed Art Print by Pierre Jean Francois Turpin
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As a food, dates were a main-stay of the extensive trading caravan routes. The high sugar content of the drupe delays decomposition prolonging the fruit's storage. The high energy food also contains thiamine (B-1), riboflavin (B-2), niacin, vitamin A, vitamin C, 15 minerals and mineral salts, pectin, dietary fiber, and unsaturated fatty acids. Stefan Kasapis notes that many desert tribes have used camel or goat milk and dates for complete sustenance. ("Dates: A Fruit of Promise for the Food Industry", Stefan Kasapis, College of Agriculture, Sultan Qaboos University)

The palm did not offer only food to weary travelers. The fibers from the fronds were woven into bags and cordage for repair or replacement of gear damaged along the routes. The fronds themselves could be formed into fences and temporary shelters. And the shade provided by the live palms was a cool respite from the hundreds of miles of
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These untended descendents of castaway date seeds inhabit the scattered
oases along the caravan routes from the Indus Valley of Pakistan
across the Arabian and Saharan deserts to the western coast of Africa.
The Photographer Discovers an Oasis in the Middle of the Sahara Desert
Photographic Print by Peter Carsten
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hot desert sun.

The date palm is a human-dispersed plant. Stands of date palms are of two types: those under cultivation having the continuous attention of farmers and those considered 'subspontaneous' growing from seeds discarded where nomads or trade caravans rested. These untended descendents of castaway date seeds inhabit the scattered oases along the caravan routes from the Indus Valley of Pakistan across the Arabian and Saharan deserts to the western coast of Africa.

The Al Ain Chapter of the Emirates Natural History Group has a beautiful photo layout of the Al Ain Oasis taken by Phil Iddison. This is an ancient oasis that has received excellent stewardship. To view the photographs, click on the link:

http://www.enhg.org/field/aaoasis/oasis.html

Click on the thumbnails to enlarge the images and use your browser's "Back" button to return to the layout.

The Al Ain Chapter of the ENHG has a great website with numerous topics covering everything from the archaeology to the zoology of the UAE and Oman. This site is well-worth an in-depth visit. To start your visit, click on the link:

http://www.enhg.org

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~

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