International Journal of Molecular Evolution and Biodiversity 2024, Vol.14, No.5, 241-251 http://ecoevopublisher.com/index.php/ijmeb 242 2 Historical Context of Fig Domestication 2.1 Archaeological evidence of early fig cultivation The domestication of figs is a significant milestone in the history of agriculture, with evidence suggesting that figs may have been one of the earliest domesticated plants. Archaeological findings from the Lower Jordan Valley, particularly at sites such as Gilgal I and Netiv Hagdud, indicate that fig cultivation dates back to the second half of the twelfth millennium BP. Kislev et al. (2006a) presented evidence of human use of parthenocarpic female figs (Ficus carica var. domestica) from these sites, suggesting that these figs were propagated vegetatively, a practice that was likely widespread throughout the Fertile Crescent during this period (Denham, 2007). This evidence is supported by the discovery of nine carbonized fig fruits (Figure 1) and hundreds of drupelets at Gilgal I, which date to approximately 11 400 to 11 200 years ago. These findings suggest that fig trees were grown from intentionally planted branches, indicating a form of early horticulture that predates cereal domestication by about a thousand years (Kislev et al., 2006a). Figure 1 Carbonized fig fruit (Ficus caricavar. domestica) from Gilgal I, broken lengthwise (Adopted from Kislev et al., 2006a) Image caption: Orifice (A) surrounded by scales (B). The fruit skin (C) covers the thin fruit flesh (D) and its inner part (E), which includes the empty drupelets (F). Scale bar, 5 mm (Adopted from Kislev et al., 2006a) Further analysis of these archaeological remains has led to the conclusion that the simplicity of fig tree propagation likely contributed to its early domestication. Unlike cereal crops, which required repeated sowing, fig trees could be propagated through cuttings, making them an attractive option for early Neolithic farmers (Kislev et al., 2006b). This early cultivation of figs represents a significant shift from the gathering of wild food to the deliberate planting and management of food-producing plants, marking an important step in the development of agriculture (Gibbons, 2006). 2.2 Geographic spread and ancient trade routes associated with figs The domestication and subsequent spread of figs were closely tied to the development of ancient trade routes and the geographic expansion of early agricultural societies. The Near East, particularly the Fertile Crescent, is recognized as the primary region where fig domestication began. From this region, the cultivation of figs spread to other parts of the Mediterranean and beyond, facilitated by the trade networks that connected different civilizations. The spread of fig cultivation can be traced through the examination of genetic diversity in modern fig populations and their wild relatives. Studies have shown that the genetic makeup of domesticated figs reflects a history of multiple origins and extensive gene flow, likely driven by human-mediated movement of fig plants along
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