800 year-old Native American pot discovered with a treasure inside

In 2008, archaeologists digging in the First Nation's Menominee Reservation in Wisconsin discovered a small, but incredibly valuable artifact.

It was a simple clay pot, dating back about 800 years.  This, in and of itself, was not the shocking part.  Inside the pot they found seeds, still preserved and belonging to an extinct species of squash.

The squash seeds were likely burried for preservation

Seven years later, students in Winniped have decided to plant the seeds and the squash grew!

The squash was named Gete-okosomin, which means "Big Old Squash" in the Menominee language.

They are busy cultivating the squash to keep it from going extinct again.

It is amazing that 800 years later, the plant was brought back to life.

Preservatoin is a seriously important part of being human.  Perhaps the Menominee innovation has helped us to see that.

It is a wonder that we are able to regrow plants that laid dormant for hundreds of years!

Update:

@TrueGritYoga @cfweradio The squash seeds will soon be available for sharing through the fledgling Red River Regional Seed Library at CMU.

— Dusty McBeary (@DustinMcGladrey) January 30, 2016