Those millennia later, it is still producing olives.

 

Crete, Greece’s ancient olive tree of Vouves. Picture courtesy of Eric Nagle

The Olive Tree of Vouves on the Greek island of Crete is among the world’s oldest trees and perhaps the oldest olive tree overall. Tree ring analysis has established its age to be at least 2,000 years, while researchers at the University of Crete have put the age at 4,000 years!

However, due to the lack of a universally accepted scientific technique, the precise age of the tree cannot be ascertained. However, it is unquestionably as old as the hills themselves.

The age of the ancient tree may exceed four thousand years. Photo by Alexey Komarov.

 

The fact that olives are still being harvested from the Olive tree of Vouves is another astounding thing about it. Actually, the ancient olive tree, which is located on the island of Crete—the birthplace of olive cultivation—produces the world’s finest olive oil, as reported by Greek Reporter.

 

As the heartwood decays away, the tree’s 41-foot (12.5-meter) perimeter and 15-foot (4.6-meter) diameter trunk is now hollow.

Because of its ever-expanding life cycle, the olive tree has long been associated with everlasting life.

 

Because it is hollow, the trunk really lets light in. But the tree is still going strong and bearing fruit. Wieland, Johan

In October 2009, a museum dedicated to the olive tree of Vouves opened in a neighboring 19th-century house. The museum showcases the traditional instruments and process of olive production, and the tree itself has been proclaimed a protected natural monument.

 

Winners of the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens and the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing each received a wreath made from branches of this tree. How about that? Wreaths made from it may have even been used in the 776 BC ancient Olympic Games at Olympia.