Pea from tomb of Tutankhamun saved from extinction

Newbury Today

A pea, thought to be from the gardens at Highclere Castle, and originating from the tomb of Tutankhamun, has been saved from extinction.

Known as the Tutankhamun pea, the rare variety is thought to be from the gardens of the Carnarvon estate, at Highclere Castle.

The fifth Earl of Carnarvon, along with Howard Carter, discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun, in 1922, and it is thought that this variety could be a descendant of peas discovered in the tomb, according to Garden Organic, a charitable organisation dedicated to organic gardening.

The pea was one of one of 800 varieties of vegetables highlighted as being saved from extinction by the charity, which runs the world-renowned Heritage Seed Library, conserving and making available varieties of vegetables that are fast disappearing.