World`s Oldest Tree?

The Fortingall Yew (Taxus baccata) is an ancient yew tree in the churchyard of the small village of Fortingall in Perthshire, Scotland. Various estimates have put its age at between 2,000 and 9,000 years.
The yew's once massive trunk (16 metres, or 52 feet in girth in 1769, of unknown original height) is split into several separate stems, giving the impression of several smaller trees. This is a result of the cutting out of pieces of its wood as tourist trinkets in the nineteenth century and the natural decay of the ancient heartwood, which has reduced the centre of the trunk down to ground level. Other than this the tree is still in good health and may last for many more centuries. It is now protected by a wall but can still be easily viewed.
Steeped in history and folklore, prior to the introduction of Christianity, yew trees were regarded as the tree of eternity. Often long-lived, they have a habit of starting to grow again as they reach their 500th year.
According to legend, Pontius Pilate was born in its shade and played there as a child, although this is most likely a myth, as the Roman conquest of Britain took place some years after Pilate's time.
The world`s oldest tree is usually credited to a Bristlecone Pine in California, but this yew is probably Europe`s oldest.
The area immediately surrounding Fortingall has a variety of prehistoric archaeological sites including Càrn na Marbh, a Bronze Age tumulus.

Music: Pilgrim`s Way by Phil Coulter and Aoife Ni Fhearraigh.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Scotland
• ancient
• Yew
• tree
• Fortingall
• Perthshire
• oldest
• churchyard
• historical
• Taxus
• baccata
• Phil
• Coulter
• Pilgrim`s
• Way
• Aoife
• Ni
• Fhearraigh
• music

[JeremiahDaradal]

what camcorder did you use?

[bealach]

@JeremiahDaradal

Compact, Samsung WB500

[SurvivalGuy123]

I though Bristlecone pines were the oldest trees.

[bealach]

@SurvivalGuy123

The world`s oldest tree is usually credited to a Bristlecone Pine in California, but this yew is probably Europe`s oldest. In both cases the exact age is not known, but yews as well as Bristlecone are very long lived!

[ghough12]

Great information and great choice of music, reminds me of the Vangelis 1492 film score. Graham

[bealach]

Yes, not quite what you usually associate with Phil Coulter, but with great vocals from Irish singer, Aoife.

[AJTAFFY]

2,000 and 9,000 years old is rather a big gap lol

[tanoo101]

Just goes to show if u stand still for enough amount of time, everything will simply come to you. Lesson;stop n smell the roses.

[TheMeanSgtPlaysPiano]

I LOVVVVVED how they presented those stones with messages. I always think that way whenever I am looking at something really old. I always imagine all the people and objects before me that have passed through or looked at it too.

[joshlete]

@DemoraX

1. the exact science to figuring out the actual age isn't perfect

2. the exact date of the earth isn't a science either. It is an estimation from atheists and theists.

[DemoraX]

i wonder what the christians think of a tree older than the supposed age of the earth XD

theres a newly found 9550 year old tree in sweden :)

they should burn it for heresy!

[BARUtubbig]

oldest tree was in sweden right? it's roots are almost 10.000 years old..

[9608265757]

there is one tree in myy villlege .probabaly it is 2500 year old.

[StonerKlik]

Ginkos are actually the worlds odest tree. There are one of the only vegatative living things to survive the fa of the prehistoric age.

[Bobobidodo]

@GiveRespectToGetIt It is calculated at 4.54 billion years (using radiometric age dating etc)