Alan's 50,000 year old wood

Alan Hagan was showing in video and and print the amazing recovery of 50,000 year old Kauri Pine, from the mud and peat of New Zealand's North Island.

Digging out the Kaurie wood

These trees preserved by the quality of the mud and carefully wrestled from the ground with earthmoving equipment and very large chain-saws has been turned, carved and shaped into the most amazing artifacts. There is even a staircase carved inside the trunk of a huge Kauri.

Alan has a piece of this oldest surviving wood, but refuses to put it into the lathe and turn it. It is just too precious to take that risk.

Alan also explained that the wood had to be treated with special oil to be allowed entry to Australia from New Zealand. In fact all wood items have to be treated for entry to Australia, so beware if you are transporting you prized items across borders.