Olive Trees Are Known for Their Longevity. Some Could Be 4,000 Years Old

Olive Trees Are Known for Their Longevity. Some Could Be 4,000 Years Old

One living example of that endurance is the olive tree of Vouves, found on the Greek island of Crete. Conservative estimates suggest the olive tree of Vouves is about 2,000 years old. That would make it a living witness to the division of the Roman Empire, the fall of Byzantium, the rise and decline of the Ottoman Empire, and the birth of modern Greece. But some experts believe it could be much older—possibly up to 4,000 years. That would place …