A 7,000-year-old oak trunk was recently discovered in a bog near Munkebo, North Funen, following a tip from an elderly local farmer. Faaborg-based furniture designer Ole Pedersen led the excavation, uncovering a 14-metre-long and 80 cm-wide trunk buried just half a metre below the surface.
© Stephen Mcsweeny | Dreamstime
To prevent the wood from splitting, the trunk was sawn in half while still in the bog and transported to Allested Sawmill, where it was cut into six-metre planks. Moesgaard Museum in Aarhus confirmed its age, dating the tree to the Mesolithic period, making it one of the oldest oaks ever found in Denmark.
Pedersen plans to transform the ancient oak into designer furniture, collaborating with Jeppe Utzon, grandson of renowned architect Jørn Utzon. The first project, named The 7K Table, will highlight the oak's exceptional size, history, and craftsmanship potential.
The trunk's preservation was aided by the bog's inaccessible location, which allowed it to remain undisturbed for millennia. The find also contained traces of ancient sea life, reflecting the area's past as a seabed.
Pedersen expressed curiosity over the tree's history, noting the missing top and roots, and speculating whether it had been felled by Mesolithic humans or fallen naturally.
This discovery merges archaeological significance with contemporary design, offering a tangible connection to Denmark's prehistoric natural heritage.
Source: www.wood-supply.dk
