Methuselah is the name of an ancient Great Basin bristlecone pine in California’s White Mountains.
The tree is a member of Pinus longaeva, a species adapted to cold, dry mountain environments. Bristlecone pines grow extremely slowly, and their harsh surroundings reduce competition from other plants and help limit damage from insects and disease. Methuselah’s exact location is kept secret to protect it from vandalism.
Researchers estimate Methuselah began growing around 2833 BCE, making it more than 4,800 years old. Its age was established through tree-ring research, including cross-dating, rather than by simply measuring the trunk.
Methuselah is often called the world’s oldest known living non-clonal tree, although claims about oldest trees can change when new evidence is found. It should not be confused with Prometheus, another bristlecone pine that was cut down in Nevada in 1964.