They are naturally dried under the sun and are free of chemicals.They are high on fibers and also calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron and vitamin A.  
They naturally dried without sorbate, as sorbate changes the flavor.  Sorbate is used to keep the figs soft and to prevent them from "sugaring". You can boil them in water for a few minutes to make them softer.  
In ancient Greece dried figs were regarded, along with olives, as “Pythagorean dinners”. It was known to Byzantine world as “ishades”, meaning the figs that were kept in clay jars through out all winter. This technique was used by all the civilizations of the Mediterranean sea until recently. Romans kept the figs along with the stem soaked in honey. 
People from the Mediterranean Sea and the Middle East have been making sweets, desserts and beverages for hundreds of years, not only for their unique flavour but also for their great nutritional value.