unique habitat of ancient olive trees in deir hanna
TRANSCRIPT
ברוקשטיין: עופר צילום
Que
rcus
ithab
uren
sis
Olive
3500-
525-
1675-
775+
1750+
BCAD
Canaanite period
Early IsraerliIsraeli period
Persian period
Helenistic period
Roman period
Byzantine period
Arabian periodCrusades
Mamluk period
Ottoman period
British mandateState of Israel
Stormy, cold, and rainy
ויבש חם) שיא ) וגשום קר
ויבש חם
וגשום קר
ויבש חם
וגשום קר
Stormy, cold, and rainy
Hot and dryCold and rainy
Hot and dry
Cold and rainy
Hot and dry
Cold and rainy
Hot and dry
Cold and rainy (include the little ice
age)
Hot and dry
Human history
ברוך" ) פ (1994ע " פ ע פליאואקלים
Issar (2001) ואחרים
Unique habitat as the key factor for the survival and vitality of Deir Hana old olive
treesNir Herr – Forest department, Northern region, KKL-JNF
Deir Hanna old olive trees are well known for their impressive stem. The unique appearance in this local spot was examined.
We have raised and tried to answer questions such as: Why they are growing here, how old are they, and why they had survived
exactly here during dry periods. Is there any guaranty for their future livelihood?
Recently, hydro-mechanical operations intending to increase water flow in the spring below are threatening this rare orchard.
How many people are needed to hug the tree ?
Deir Hanna
Rama formation
Kamon formation
Quercus calliprinos maquis
The ancient oliveThe springThe olive land
ויניקהו דבש מסלע ושמן מחלמיש צור
כגון סיכני וחברותיהמדרש תנאים לספר דברים
ל"ב
The ancient olivesThe maquis
The spring
Rock structure
Yelow Marl
Marly chalk
Reddish sandstone
Breccia
The maquis grows on higher stratigraphic layer relative to the Olive layer
Good hydraulic conductivity, fast flow
Low conductivity, slow flow
Aquitard: very low conductivity, slowly flow
Marly chalk
Marl
Cracked rock
Spring
A schematic draw of the hydrogeological system. Water percolate in and between rock layers with different water conductivity.
Quarrying
310
312
314
316
318
320
322
324
326
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Heig
ht a
bove
sea
leve
l (m
)
Horizontal distance
Topography and layer section Topography section
Layer inclination
Pipe line
Maquis layerOlive layer
Maquis layer
The site is part of an inclined geological block. The Olives are growing in the soil on the marly chalk, and the maquis is on a layer above it.
Quarry
Deir Hanna olives
The ancient olive trees
Geological, pedological and hydrological factors were studied. The site is located on the fairly rare Rama formation of the Lower Cretaceous era. The unique habitat was comprised of: an aerated soil, inclined layer of marly chalk which serves as a perched aquifer, and a water saturated marl beneath. This specific habitat increased trees vitality and survivorship through the centuries even in dry periods.
The site
The rock-soil system
The hydrogeological system
Oaks
Q. C
allip
rinos
Pist
acia
Years
Pollen amount Climate conditions
The Olive history as reconstructed by pollen research from the bottom of the Sea of Galilee.
Compared to the human periods and climate conditions
A quotation from the “Mishna”:
that Implies on the region olive oil fertility
Deir Hanna olives in the Galilee
A panoramic view of the slopeUpper left – the olive orchard, Bottom right – the spring
Pollen after Baruch, 1994Climate after Issar, 2001 and others
The olive orchard – past, and future?Relying on pollen and Paleo-Climatic research, we assess that the trees were planted around 2,000 years ago, in the Hellenistic and Roman period (as shown in the Figure on the right), in a relative humid climate. At that era olive plantations were at its peak.
Dier Hana Olive trees succeeded to overcome dry periods while olive trees in surrounding lands have not. This is due to their unique habitat
The threat: recently, hydro-mechanical operations were made downward the aquifer, (the quarry) intending to increase water flow in the spring.
This intervention might accelerate the flow in the perched aquifer, reduce the water availability and could risk trees survival in the future.