[Woodcarver] I got 50,000 year old wood for Christmas (Kauri).

[Joe Dillett]

What did you get for Christmas? I got a wonderful piece of Karui about 9 X 
12 X 2-inches thick.

This ancient wood is called Kauri (cow-re). It is the world's oldest wood. 
It comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Here is what is written about it.:

"Ancient Kauri is the world's oldest workable timber.

The prehistoric Kauri forests that grew 50,000 years ago are preserved under 
the surface of the North Island of New Zealand.

Buried under a peat swamp by an unexplained act of nature at the end of the 
last Ice Age, the trees have survived the centuries in an underground 
resting place, sealed in a chemically blanced environment that has preserved 
the timber in perfect condition.

The trees grew for nearly 2000 years before they were buried. Some have a 
girth of around 40 feet, and a total height of nearly 200 feet. They are 
among the largest trees in the world.

Extraction of the logs is time consuming, expensive and technically 
difficult requiring skilled operators of heavy machinery. Working in wet 
conditions each log must be carefully brought to the surface. Once removed 
from the ground the log is assessed, than milled to yield the best grain and 
timber qualities. After the log has been removed, the area is than restored 
to its original contours with no environmental consequences.

Despite its long burial, with careful selection, cutting and drying, the 
wood maintains its beautiful qualities and finishes to a rich cognac shade. 
When polished the wood is a deep color with hues, textures and sheen's that 
constantly change under different shades of light. It literally glistens as 
if lit from beneath the surface.

Extensive scientific Radio Carbon Dating tests have done on samples of 
Ancient Kauri by independent organizations that include:

The University of New Zealand in Walkato

The University of Sydney, Australia

The New Zealand Institute of Nuclear Science

Beta Analytic Inc. of Miami, Florida, the United States leading laboratory 
for radio carbon dating analyses.

Dating has proven beyond doubt that these Kauri forests grew during the 
period 30,000 to more than 50,000 years ago.

Scientists are also studying the growth rings of Ancient Kauri to piece 
together a look at the environment of our planet before the arrival of 
modern man.

Every finished piece becomes a collectable investment proven to stand the 
test of time. It is not known how much Ancient Kauri lies beneath the 
ground. Because there is a finite amount of Ancient Kauri available, you 
will want to take advantage of having the privileged opportunity to use and 
enjoy this distinctive and extremely rare wood."

Sharon purchased a piece of this Ancient Kauri (about 9 X 12 X 2-inches) for 
about $50. She got it from The Hardwood Connection (815-895-8733) in 
Sycamore Illinois. The Hardwood Connection got it from the wholesale company 
Ancientwood, Ltd. 160 Madeline Island, La Pointe, WI. 54850 USA. There 
website is http://www.ancientwood.com

I don't know what I'll be carving in it yet. These trees have grown for 2000 
years and were buried before man was put on this earth. What an Ice Age to 
have been able to bulldoze whole landscapes pushing mountains of earth and 
burying trees so large that a house could fit inside. I'm guessing that I'll 
be carving something religious trying to show the power of God's creation 
and that it was all done for us. How does an artist show that? I'm thinking 
that God has returned a piece of that history to me so I could realize that 
all this creation was for you and me and every human life born and unborn. 
We use the resources of the earth older than these trees like oil and 
diamonds without much thought as to their age but somehow this wood is 
different to me. Perhaps because it was a living thing and remains in almost 
exactly the same form as it did back 50,000 years ago.


Joe Dillett
The Carving Shop
645 E. LaSalle St. Suite 3
Somonauk, IL. 60552
(815) 498-9290 phone
(815) 498-9249 fax
http://www.thecarvingshop.com
jdillett at thecarvingshop.com
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