Methuselah (pine tree)

Methuselah is the common name given to an ancient Great Basin bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) tree growing high in the White Mountains of Inyo County in eastern California. For many years, it was considered the oldest known non-clonal organism in the world, based on its ring count, although this is now disputed.

Its exact location is kept secret by the United States Forest Service to protect it from vandalism and damage. The tree's age has been estimated, based on ring counts, to be over 4,850 years old. This places its germination approximately in the mid-3rd millennium BC, placing it firmly in the Bronze Age.

While previously considered the world's oldest known living organism, more recent findings suggest another bristlecone pine in the same area is older, though its age and specific identity have not been publicly released to prevent similar damage. The continued study and protection of these ancient trees are crucial to understanding long-term ecological processes and adaptation. Research continues to refine the dating of these trees, and there is always a margin of error involved in tree-ring dating.

The longevity of Methuselah and other bristlecone pines is attributed to several factors, including the harsh, high-altitude environment they inhabit, which limits competition and reduces the spread of disease and pests. The slow growth rate also contributes to their exceptional lifespan. The incredibly slow growth of the bristlecone pines in the area makes them unusually resistant to deterioration.