Olives & Co.
Olive tree cultivation has a long and fascinating history. The origins of the olive tree can be traced back to the Oligocene 20-40 million years ago, when these plants developed in Italy and the eastern Mediterranean region. About 7,000 years ago, the domesticated olive was cultivated for the first time in Mediterranean regions and has since been considered one of the oldest cultivated crops in the world.
Interestingly, in the early days of its cultivation, the olive was grown mainly for the production of lamp oil, and not for its culinary value. Only later, over time, did people recognize the nutritional value and delicious taste of the olive fruits and begin to use them more extensively for human consumption.
There is also evidence that olives were already being used by people living on the Atlantic coast of Morocco about 100,000 years ago. Wild olive trees, also known as oleasters, had already been present in the eastern Mediterranean region for about 19,000 years and were gathered by people.
Although the origin of the domesticated olive is not known for certain, fossils of Olea pollen have been found in Macedonia and other places around the Mediterranean, indicating that this genus is an original element of the Mediterranean flora. On the Greek island of Santorini, fossilized Olea leaves were found in paleosols that are about 37,000 years old. Other leaves on the same island date back to 60,000 BP and are the oldest known olives from the Mediterranean.
All in all, the history of the olive tree is closely linked to Mediterranean culture and history and continues to be valued and used in many parts of the world today.
Interestingly, in the early days of its cultivation, the olive was grown mainly for the production of lamp oil, and not for its culinary value. Only later, over time, did people recognize the nutritional value and delicious taste of the olive fruits and begin to use them more extensively for human consumption.
There is also evidence that olives were already being used by people living on the Atlantic coast of Morocco about 100,000 years ago. Wild olive trees, also known as oleasters, had already been present in the eastern Mediterranean region for about 19,000 years and were gathered by people.
Although the origin of the domesticated olive is not known for certain, fossils of Olea pollen have been found in Macedonia and other places around the Mediterranean, indicating that this genus is an original element of the Mediterranean flora. On the Greek island of Santorini, fossilized Olea leaves were found in paleosols that are about 37,000 years old. Other leaves on the same island date back to 60,000 BP and are the oldest known olives from the Mediterranean.
All in all, the history of the olive tree is closely linked to Mediterranean culture and history and continues to be valued and used in many parts of the world today.
