Great Basin bristlecone pine trees (Pinus longaeva) are the oldest known individual living organisms on earth. Found at high elevations in the Great Basin mountain ranges of Nevada, California, and Utah, a number of these marvelous trees have been documented as being almost 5000 years old, with one individual in Inyo County, California recently having been confirmed as being a minimum of 5,060 years old in 2012. These ancient individuals might actually be slightly older, however, as there are harsh years in which no growth ring may produced whatsoever, meaning a skipped year in the wood ring record every few centuries or so, making them probably at least 20 to 30 years older than can be actually verified.
Until the Inyo County tree’s age was determined, Great Basin National Park in eastern Nevada was formerly home to the oldest known bristlecone, a tree known as “Prometheus” which was cut down for research purposes in 1964. Verified as the oldest living thing in the wake of its controversial felling at 4862 years in age, the researcher who cut down Prometheus was horrified at what he had unknowingly done. It should be noted that at the time, “Prometheus” was not considered to be exceptional, and thought to be merely one of many middle-aged bristlecones in the realm of “only” 2500 to 3000 years in age. This was part of why permission was granted for the cutting of the tree, without knowing its true age or value at the time.
The upside to the story is that awareness of the tremendous ages of these trees became widespread in the wake of the tragedy, leading to their protection and the establishment of reserves and parks to protect them, including Great Basin NP in 1986. The loss of Prometheus helped lead to important advances in scientific research regarding past climate conditions as recorded in tree rings (a field known as dendrochronology), as well as conservation work.
Dead bristlecones stand for thousands of years after they perish. Their dense, resinous wood and the frigid, dry, desert mountain climate help them resist decay, while insect attacks and fires are nearly nonexistent in these widely-spaced groves up at timberline. So in between living trees and dead ones an extremely accurate unbroken record of the climate conditions of the past 10,000 years can be examined. This alone makes bristlecone pines worthy of saving. Science aside, they also have immense artistic beauty and the capacity to inspire us to ponder our place as humans in the timeline of life. We are fortunate to have them here, telling us stories of the past, future, and even ourselves, should we choose to listen.