Bean 1500 Old Cave (P. vulgaris)

1500 Old Cave Bean (P. vulgaris): The story goes that several specimens of these beans were found in a cave in New Mexico, sealed in resin in a terracotta container by a team searching for traces of pygmy elephant remains. Subsequent carbon dating showed them to be approximately 1,500 years old, making this cultivar of the Anasazi Native Americans (an ancestral people) the oldest known. Right? Hmm. In any case, stories aside, the variety is certainly ancient; the plant is a vigorous, productive climber. The large seeds are white and burgundy in color, reminiscent of the climbing cultivars of central Mexico (Vaquita). In the kitchen, they are suitable for long cooking times, thanks to their firm texture and leathery skin. They keep well after being harvested (not 1,500 years, but hey, we winter with them). For beginners, the curious and collectors.