Archaeologists uncover a 2,000-year-old crop in the Canary Islands
1 min read
November 26, 2025
Urban & Home Growing
✅ Last reviewed: May 2026
Scientists decoded DNA from millennia-old lentils preserved in volcanic rock silos on Gran Canaria. The findings show that today’s Canary Island lentils largely descend from varieties brought from North Africa around the 200s. These crops survived cultural upheavals because they were so well-suited to the islands’ harsh climate. Their long-standing resilience could make them valuable for future agriculture.
