When human error erases 5,000 years of history, we become even more aware that humankind is not perfect. The incident occurred in Nevada, USA, and is recorded as one of the most significant scientific errors of the 20th century. Prometheus, a Great Basin pine growing on the slopes of Wheeler Peak in Nevada, had survived for nearly 5,000 years before being accidentally felled. The world’s oldest tree fell in 1964 when graduate student Donald Rusk Currey cut it down as part of a scientific study.
At the time, Prometheus didn’t stand out
The fact is that this scientific decision ended up destroying one of the oldest living organisms ever discovered. As detailed in the Indian Defence Review, Currey was working with ancient Great Basin pines and had no way of knowing that this particular specimen had lived for almost 5,000 years. At the time, Prometheus didn’t stand out. It wasn’t especially tall or visually impressive, so Currey couldn’t have suspected that it was a tremendously ancient natural relic. And a priceless one at that.
The Great Basin National Park Service explained that the facts were never fully clarified
The story doesn’t end there. To add a bit more intrigue, the Great Basin National Park Service explained that the facts were never fully clarified. “We may never know the true story of what happened,” the institution stated, acknowledging that there are differing accounts of the reason for the tree felling. Furthermore, according to reports highlighted by Indian Defense Review, it remains unclear why he decided to cut down the tree, although records show he had permission from the U.S. Forest Service.
Years later, Currey recounted to the San Francisco Chronicle the moment he realized what he had done
Of course, we might ask: what could lead a person to cut down an entire tree? One hypothesis suggests that Currey was trying to retrieve a drill bit that had become stuck while extracting a sample from the trunk. But another theory proposes that he needed a complete cross-section to conduct a more detailed study of the tree rings. Years later, Currey recounted to the San Francisco Chronicle the moment he realized what he had done. Back home, examining the tree cross-section with a magnifying glass, he began counting the rings. That’s when it hit him: Prometheus was almost 5,000 years old. Imagine coming home after a day’s work and discovering this.
Prometheus remains one of the most regrettable events in American conservation history
In any case, as we explained earlier, what is confirmed is that Currey had authorization from the Forest Service to cut down the tree and that the tree’s true age was only discovered afterward, obviously after the felling had already taken place. Although even older trees have since been identified, the felling of Prometheus remains one of the most regrettable events in American conservation history. According to Indian Defense Review, years later Currey would recall: “I knew it was a pretty old tree.” The incident sparked widespread outrage and ultimately led to greater protection of old-growth trees across the United States. Perhaps many realized that it wasn’t necessary to cut down a tree entirely to obtain samples for a study.
In these times, deforestation is one of the world’s major forestry problems. The lungs of planet Earth are crying out for help, and companies continue to cut down trees, especially in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil and Colombia. In any case, and despite the tragedy of the news, it has spurred subsequent studies that identified other ancient pine trees that could be even older than the one in this story. Many of these trees are located in remote areas like the White Mountains of California. Therefore, identifying and protecting them is paramount.