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Ancient Buried Kauri Forests...
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In their efforts to extract the Kauri Gum from the peat swamps
the Gumdiggers exposed parts of the Kauri trees that produced it. The timber has been preserved in the peat swamps,
due to the lack of oxygen and the chemicals in the peat.
The
timber that you see in the bottom of the holes is at least 46,000 years old and
some has been estimated at being more than 100,000 years old.
Kauri Gum of a similar age is also visible in the holes and on display.
When
extracted the bark, leaves and timber are so perfectly preserved that they
have even retained their colour. However, this disappears after a few
minutes exposure to the oxygen in the air, |
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The gum hole at the right shows defined layers of soil which
gives us an insight into our geological history. The sand layer on top was formed when the
sand hills of the west coast (Ninety Mile Beach) encroached (and later retreated
from this land) – a natural process that has repeated many times. At that time (around 42,000
years ago) the height of the land above sea level was about 10 feet greater than
it is now.
The lowest visible layer (the darkly coloured peat) was formed
around 100,000 to 150,000 years ago when the temperature was about 5 degrees
Celsius cooler than it is now. This peat layer encases the older of the two
ancient kauri forests that were buried on this site.
The kauri stump seen in the photo is from the top most
preserved forest and is around 46,000 years old. |
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There have been various studies of this site and many
others in Northland which have also uncovered a mystery surrounding the
demise of some of the ancient kauri forests. On this particular site
there are the remains of two ancient forests but there is evidence that
there may have been several more.
In some areas around 80% of the trees are buried
all facing the same way.
This suggests that, in this instance, whatever caused the burial of the
huge trees was a sudden cataclysmic event such as a tsunami or hurricane
rather than a slow natural process such as temperature change. |
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There have been a number of theories put forward to
account for the demise of these forests and there is some scientific
evidence for many of them. One of these theories is destruction by a
giant tidal wave, like the one created by the Mahuika event in the Tasman Sea in 1450,
caused by a meteorite impact. In the last 6300 years New Zealand has
been impacted by 10 major Tsunamis, which suggests that we are probably
almost due for the next one.
Another theory suggests Volcanic Eruptions such as the Oruanui event
that formed the Volcanic Plateau and Lake Taupo 26,500 thousand years
ago. Ash from this huge eruption has been found throughout the North
Island as well as on offshore islands. It is estimated that Lake Taupo
will have similar eruptions every 50,000 years or so. This suggests
that, coupled with the current state of inactivity, an imminent major
eruption is unlikely.
Comets, tornados, cyclones, or even just unusual weather phenomenon are
also candidates for the periodic destruction of the
forests. |
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Recently a new business has established
itself based around the preserved kauri trees.
The excavation of these ancient
logs is now a flourishing business in Northland and beautiful artworks
are being made from this incredible timber.
Some of our Kauri products have been
manufactured from timber excavated onsite. These products come with a
Radio Carbon date certificate verifying their age at 45,839 years old
+/-1282 years. |
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