TRAGIC DEATH IN NATURE OF A 4,862 YEAR-OLD TREE

by Benjamin Miller:

Prometheus, a Great Basin Bristlecone Pine Tree. Ok, maybe not the most significant or expensive, but it’s certainly a great tragedy.

Prometheus was cut down in 1964 by a graduate student and United States Forest Service personnel for research purposes. The tree at the time it was cut down was at least 4,862 years old.

That is over 200 years older than the pyramids! When they measured how old Prometheus was they discovered that it was the oldest known individual tree in the world. This gnarly tree was here before Christ, Muhammad, Buddha, Moses, and L. Ron Hubbard!

It is interesting to calculate when Prometheus’ beginning was and look at a timeline of events that were occurring at that time.

Below is all that is left of the old tree. Most significant? Maybe not. Most expensive? No. Tragic? I’ll let you be the judge of that.

What is the most expensive or historically significant item ever to be destroyed?