Probably the most ancient olive tree in the world is in the village of Al Walaja in the Bethlehem district.
Two groups of experts from Japan and Europe dated to Al Badawi (The Big), as the Palestinians call it, between 4,000 and 5,000 years old, making it the oldest in the world.
Most ancient olive trees are found in the Mediterranean area where this tree is part of its biodiversity and intertwine with its culture.
Olive trees are grown in eight EU countries, including Spain, Italy and Greece.
They also grow in Syria, Iran and California. Another exemple is the olive tree of Vouves . The Ancient Olive Tree of Vouves is located on the island of Crete and is considered one if the oldest olive tree in the world. And it still produces olives!
Archaeological evidence suggests that wild olives were already collected around 19,000 B.C. The olive tree is a slow-growing evergreen tree characterized by a gnarled trunk from which white branches and white flowers and narrow greenish-gray leaves sprout. Trees can reach more than 15 meters high and live for hundreds of years in the right conditions.
