Massive 60-ton log over 40,000 years old found buried beneath swamp in New Zealand could help explain one of Earth’s greatest mysteries

A 45,000-year-old log discovered during excavation of a new power plant could explain a mysterious global event that may have dramatically altered Earth’s climate.

Scientists in New Zealand believe the 60-ton log could hold the answer to the ancient Laschamp Event – where the earth’s north and south poles switched with each other 40,000 years ago.

The 60-ton Kauri log was found nine meters below the surface in Ngāwhā on New Zealand’s north island in February, and was handed over to local Maoris on Wednesday following a major excavation operation.

Top Energy, the company that builds the power plant, started digging in 2017 and dug 900,000 cubic meters of soil before accidentally finding a 16-meter log.

Scientist Alan Hogg, from the University of Waikato, identified the tree as 40,500 years ago, the NZ Herald reported.

The age of the mammoth log has intrigued scientists studying the Laschamp Event – a ‘magnetic inversion’ where the Earth’s north and south magnetic poles swap places.

It is not known exactly when the reversal occurred but it is thought to have been around 41,000 years ago.

The scientists hope that studying the levels of radiocarbon in tree rings will allow them to determine when and for how long the reversal occurs.

Kiwi scientists believe that a magnetic field reversal – and a decrease in the strength of the Earth’s magnetic field, which allows more solar radiation to reach the Earth’s surface – could have a major effect on climate.

“This tree is critical, we’ve never found one of this age before” said Mr Hogg, adding that finding the tree was a stroke of luck and this will play a huge role in future research.

Given its size, the tree was probably 1500-2000 years old when it died, Mr. Hogg said.

The 16-meter-long log was transported to the nearby Ngāwhā Marae (sacred site), where a ceremony to welcome the old tree to the care of the hapū (a division of Maoris) was held.

Ngāwhā Trusists committee chairman Richard Woodman said it was a ‘great acknowledgment’ from Shaw that the tree had been returned to its rightful owner and not as a gift.

Transporting trees is a huge undertaking, with sections about 1.5m long that need to be cut off at both ends to be able to move. The stump alone weighs 28 tons.The three sections were lifted by two 130-ton cranes, then carried by five-foot kimolet trucks dow

Related Posts

Jaпet Jacksoп : « Michael m’a forcé à l’aider à faire semblaпt »...md

Jaпet Jacksoп : « Michael m’a forcé à l’aider à faire semblaпt »…md

This пarrative dives iпto a somber portrayal of Michael Jacksoп’s life, exploriпg strυggles with fame, family, aпd iппer demoпs, told throυgh the perspective

(Video) Jim Carrey reveals why Oprah aпd Diddy were afraid of Michael Jacksoп. - News

(Video) Jim Carrey reveals why Oprah aпd Diddy were afraid of Michael Jacksoп. – News

(Video) Jim Carrey Reveals Why Oprah aпd Diddy Were Afraid of Michael Jacksoп Iп a sυrprisiпg aпd пever-before-heard revelatioп, Jim Carrey revealed iп aп

Will Smith RÉAGIT aυ fait qυe Jadeп Smith soit TRANSGENRE après les FREAKOFF PARTIES de Diddy !?...

Will Smith RÉAGIT aυ fait qυe Jadeп Smith soit TRANSGENRE après les FREAKOFF PARTIES de Diddy !?…

Will Smith Reacts to Rυmors Aboυt Jadeп Smith’s Geпder Ideпtity Amid Diddy Party Specυlatioпs

Le moпde dυ divertissemeпt est eп pleiп chaos alors qυe Joe Rogaп R3VEALS ajoυte 4 пoυveaυx пoms sυr la liste des iпvités célèbres poυr la w!ld p@rty de Diddy...

Le moпde dυ divertissemeпt est eп pleiп chaos alors qυe Joe Rogaп R3VEALS ajoυte 4 пoυveaυx пoms sυr la liste des iпvités célèbres poυr la w!ld p@rty de Diddy…

The latest scaпdal sυrroυпdiпg mυsic mogυl P Diddy has seпt shockwaves throυgh Hollywood, as shockiпg пew revelatioпs emerge aboυt his iпfamoυs “freak off”

Beyoпcé DÉVASTÉE après la fυite d'images choqυaпtes de la fête de Diddy : « Il m'a forcée ! » – La vérité derrière le scaпdale révélée…md

Beyoпcé DÉVASTÉE après la fυite d’images choqυaпtes de la fête de Diddy : « Il m’a forcée ! » – La vérité derrière le scaпdale révélée…md

Iп a shockiпg tυrп of єvєпts, Bєyoпcé, oпє of thє world’s most bєlovєd mυsic icoпs, has bєєп lєft dєvastatєd aftєr coпtrovєrsial imagєs from a rєcєпt party

Pamela Aпdersoп a révélé qυe Diddy avait eυ 6 grossesses lors de la soirée choqυaпte Freak Off...md

Pamela Aпdersoп a révélé qυe Diddy avait eυ 6 grossesses lors de la soirée choqυaпte Freak Off…md

Pamela Aпdersoп, kпowп for her role iп *Baywatch* aпd her activism, has пever shied away from shariпg the complexities of her life iп the spotlight.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *