A tree that first took root almost 5,000 years ago – before the first stones were raised at Stonehenge – has been unearthed at Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire, during the National Trust’s largest lowland peatland restoration project.
Using tree-ring analysis, the ancient oak, preserved deep in the peat, has been dated to 2894 BC. It lived for 222 years and existed before peat began to form in the area.
Experts say the extraordinary find, which links the site to a dry Late Neolithic woodland, offers a unique glimpse into Britain’s prehistoric environment.
“This discovery exemplifies that wonderful relationship between depth and time, which comes with exploring the peat fen," says Mark Knight from the Cambridge Archaeological Unit
"Traces of past landscapes abound beneath its surface, and what’s more, they come beautifully preserved and in clear chronological order."
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Unearthing the ancient bog oak
The tree was found at Spinney Bank, part of Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve, as restoration work took place to seal off a section of the peatland and stop water from leaking away.
Thanks to the wet, oxygen-free conditions of the fen, the oak had remained in exceptional condition beneath the surface for thousands of years.
“Peat holds more than just carbon, it holds stories," says Ellis Selway, peatland restoration project manager at the National Trust. "Discovering a tree that took root nearly 5,000 years ago is a humbling reminder of how much history is preserved in these ancient landscapes.”
The tree, which dates to 2894 BC, is older than the stones at Stonehenge, which were raised around 2500 BC with the construction of the central stone settings, according to English Heritage (although the first monument at Stonehenge – a circular earthwork enclosure – was built around 3000 BC).
Wicken Fen is the National Trust’s oldest nature reserve and one of the most iconic landscapes in the Fens – a large wetland area in eastern England. The wider restoration project – covering 590 acres – aims to restore peatland, improve carbon storage and encourage wildlife back to the site.
Main image: 5,000-year-old bog oak found at Wicken Fen. Credit: Ellis Selway, National Trust Images
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