About the Wood
Ancient Kauri wood is magnificently beautiful, environmentally friendly, and extremely rare. Radio carbon dating technologies estimate that it is at least 50,000 years old—likely older.
This storied, old growth timber has a powerful allure and is known the world over for its rich, dynamic iridescence. Ancient Kauri is unique to New Zealand’s North Island, and Ancientwood is its preeminent global supplier.
Kauri trees grew on New Zealand’s North Island for approximately 2,000 years before nature felled them at the end of the last Ice Age. These trees lay buried in oxygen-depleted peat swamps for tens of thousands of years.
In the 1970s, excavation crews began to unearth some of these now-Ancient Kauri trees and discovered that they had been perfectly preserved by the bogs in which they lay. In spite of its age, the wood was not petrified. Excavation of Ancient Kauri continues today, though the wood is a limited resource and no one knows how much of it remains.
The excavation process is both time and labor-intensive: When a site is identified, permission is secured and expert operators use heavy equipment to carefully expose and lift the massive trees. Once raised, the trees are transported to mills and the land from which they came—usually farm fields or ranch lands—is redressed.
Ancient Kauri wood presents a unique opportunity to designers, architects, and woodworkers the world over. Although it is over 50,000 years old, the wood is as workable as newly harvested timber. It can be cut, drilled, sanded, glued, screwed, and finished like any ordinary wood.
The density and characteristics of this wood can change from piece to piece. The wood from the roots is dense, hard, heavy, full figured and wild. It is interesting to work with and produces some amazing pieces. The wood from the trunk of the tree is clear, smooth and predictable. There are no knots or other surprises in the trunk wood.
In addition to its beauty and workability, Ancient Kauri qualifies for LEED certification and is considered an “eco-friendly” wood. No standing trees are cut in the harvesting or Ancient Kauri wood, and all of the land the buried trees come from is redressed to its original contours.
Ancientwood guarantees the authenticity of every piece of Ancient Kauri wood it distributes—whether finished or in the rough. Every shipment from New Zealand is thoroughly tested and certified by the leading radio carbon dating laboratory in the United States, and each order of Ancientwood’s Ancient Kauri is accompanied by a hand-signed Certificate of Authenticity.