Final answer:
Seeds remained clean unless they had water put on them according to Leviticus 11:38. The act of watering seeds was significant, marking their agricultural activation and susceptibility to ritual impurity.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a carcass fell on seeds, according to Leviticus 11:38, the seeds remained clean unless the seeds had water put on them. In the given context, the state of seeds in contact with decay or ceremonial cleanliness is part of the subject matter. Examples such as ensconced piglets used as future manure, seeds awaiting rain to sprout, or rice cultivation practices that involve flooding the fields after seeds are planted, all reflect the meticulous connection ancient cultures had between seeds, their purity or state for cultivation, and their exposure to water.
Watering seeds is a significant act that, in these times, transformed them from merely dry goods to something agriculturally active and potentially subject to ritual impurity. Anecdotes of seeds being clayed or ceremonially sprinkled, like various historical observations, point towards the importance placed on the condition of seeds and their preparedness for successful growth and harvest. The act of putting water on seeds symbolized the beginning of their germination process, a transition from inert to potential life.