Stckholm - Scientists have found a cluster of spruces in the mountains in western Sweden which, at an age of 8,000 years, may be the world's oldest living trees.

The hardy Norway spruces were found perched high on a mountain side where they have remained safe from recent dangers such as logging, but exposed to the harsh weather conditions of the mountain range that separates Norway and Sweden.

Carbon dating of the trees carried out at a laboratory in Miami, Florida, showed the oldest of them first set root about 8,000 years ago, making it the world's oldest known living tree, Umea University Professor Leif Kullman said.

Two other spruces, also found in the course of climate change studies in the Swedish county of Dalarna, were shown to be 4,800 and 5,500 years old.

"These were the first woods that grew after the Ice Age," said Lars Hedlund, responsible for environmental surveys in the county of Dalarna and collaborator in climate studies there.

Although a single tree trunk can become at most about 600 years old, the spruces had survived by pushing out another trunk as soon as the old one died, Professor Kullman said.
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I would have loved to have seen pictures of these remarkable trees...And hopefully they will never be touched by human hands

What is the actual point in using muti-media news platforms, like the inernet, when you have nothing but text!

Lack of photos annoy me.

Still, 8000 years. That's incredable.

Sounds like the ultimate of all scenery, beautiful and pristien. I love hearing about stuff like this. Touches the heart and minds of the potential of old.

Like a step back in time.