Ancient trees in the Land of Israel
editFor most trees in Palestine, ancient trees in the Land of Israel are trees that are over 100 years old. The determination of antiquity also depends on the species of tree: Eucalyptus of a hundred years old in Israel is considered ancient, while Sycamore and Carob a hundred years old are not considered very ancient.
Trees do not survive for many years due to biological reasons (species life expectancy, exposure to various pests, competition with invasive species, climate change, air pollution, etc.) and because of their felling by humans, for use as a combustion material and for expanding areas for construction and agriculture. The construction of the Hijazi railroad and its branches in Israel in the 19th century led to the displacement of most of the forest areas in Sharon and Samaria.
The belief that trees that grow in a sacred place are related to the sanctity of the place, and are even considered sacred trees, has led to many of the ancient trees preserved growing near sacred sites ("places" such as mosques, sheik tombs, and righteous tombs ). The felling ban allows the trees to grow wild and undisturbed. A few trees also survived in pastures, where herdsmen sought to create a shady gathering site in the heart of open space for the herd.
It is usually possible to study the age of a tree only after its growth and examination of its growth rings. Other dating methods rely on the diameter of the stem, the amount of threads and wicker around it, the degree of fragmentation of the branches from the main stem, and more. Passenger descriptions and illustrations can serve as reliable evidence of the antiquity of a tree if the exact location of the tree can be ascertained. In most of the ancient trees in Israel, there are no annual rings, so it is difficult to accurately estimate their age; In the absence of credible information, many times cite traditional beliefs that can greatly overstate the age of trees. The oldest trees in the area of Israel that can be accurately estimated by counting annual rings are juniper trees grown in southern Sinai, dating back about 400 years.