Methuselah - The Oldest Living Non-Clonal Organism on Earth (See Description)

Methuselah is a 4,853-year-old Great Basin Bristlecone Pine located in the White Mountains of Inyo County, California. To put its age into perspective: the Viking Age began around 793 AD, the Roman Empire was founded in 753 BC, Ancient Greece’s classical period began around 800 BC, the Persian Empire started around 550 BC, and the Ancient Egyptian Empire was established around 3100 BC. The Pyramids of Giza, including the Great Pyramid, were constructed around 2580-2560 BC. All of these civilizations, except for Ancient Egypt, rose and fell after Methuselah had already germinated.

Methuselah is the oldest known non-clonal organism. It predates the Viking Age, the Roman Empire, Ancient Greece, the Persian Empire, and the construction of the Pyramids of Giza. When Methuselah germinated, the Ancient Egyptian Empire was only 169 years old, and the Pyramids of Giza had not yet been built!