The oldest olive tree in the world and witness to the history of mankind is 4,000 years old and still yields olives

The Olive tree of Vouves in the in the village of Ano Vouves, Crete is long believed to be one of the oldest specimens in existence. With a gnarled trunk, 12 feet in diameter, it has stood at the top of a small hill in this quiet Greek village for thousands of years - a true survivor, a testament of resilience in a world that is constantly evolving and changing.

For the people of Crete, the Olive Tree of Vouves is an emblematic icon which represents survival and adaptability. It is a biological marvel, possessing unique characteristics that have helped it sustain itself for four millennia. A robust root system has kept the tree healthy, stable, free from disease while allowing it to grow new shoots. Careful pruning is another factor which has contributed to its longevity. The Olive Tree of Vouves still produces an annual harvest of olives - in smaller yields than in years gone by but it’s a miracle it still bears fruit at all.

Determining the Olive Tree of Vouves’ age

Exactly how old the Olive Tree of Vouves is has been a subject of much debate. Researchers from the University of Crete estimate it to be 4,000 years old - others think it could be even older, and some studies date it back 2,900 years.

However, the key obstacle faced by scientists trying to date the tree is that it lost its heartwood a long time ago. Like all trees the Olive Tree of Vouves has suffered fungal disease during its lifetime and the central part of its trunk has rotted away.

The pith in the central core is the oldest part of a tree. But the pith has long decayed in the Olive Tree of Vouves which means that it cannot be dated by its ring anatomy.

Vouves tree’s genetic makeup sequenced

In 2021, a team of researchers set out to crack the mystery once and for all in a government-funded study. It was the first full-scale scientific study ever conducted into this fascinating ancient olive tree.

The research team used a combination of non-invasive imaging techniques and hands-on lab work. They scanned both the upper, fruit-bearing part of the tree as well as the lower part of the tree, the rootstock, using CT imaging. Nutrient samples were taken, then mapped and sequenced separately back at the lab.

The study concluded that the Vouves tree is genetically related with other monumental trees of the Sotira area in Cyprus, and is approximately 4,000 years old, making it the oldest known living specimen of the Olea europaea species still bearing fruit today.

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