Scientists find oldest piece of mahogany wood dating back to age of dinosaurs

Science: A piece of mahogany has been unearthed just off the coast of Vancouver Island in Canada and is believed to be the oldest sample of the hardwood ever found. 

The fossilised chunk of timber dates back to the end of the Cretaceous period roughly 80 million years ago. 

Previously, it was through mahogany only existed as far back as 60 million years ago, after the demise of the dinosaurs.  

The specimen has been named Manchestercarpa vancouverensis. 

The species name vancouverensis is a nod to its location while the genus name Manchestercarpa is to honour a prominent scientist, Steve Manchester at the University of Florida Museum of Natural History.

Evidence of a fleshy layer of fruit and seeds can still be seen in the fossil.    

Dr Brian Atkinson, a paleobotanist from the University of Kansas, stumbled upon the fossil by chance and analysis revealed it to be between 72 and 79 million years old.

The rock containing the fossil was found by a local fossil hunter called Graham Beard, director of the Qualicum Beach Museum of Natural History.

Mr Beard's rock was being investigated by Dr Atkinson for another fossil trapped within. 

But as analysis progressed, the stone revealed a treasure trove of prehistoric fossils, including the mahogany.  

Dr Atkinson analysed the structure of the mahogany and traced its genetic history to figure out its relationship to other species in the family.

This showed the fossil, which he admits was found by accident, is closely related to the mahogany trees seen today. 

Mahogany plays a key role in the fossil record, as its existence and durability indicates the locations of now-extinct tropical rainforests.  

Dr Atkinson explained: 'For understanding when many of the different branches of the tree of life evolved, we are primarily dependent on the fossil record.

'In this case, Meliaceae, the mahogany family, is an ecologically and economically important group of trees.

'A lot of researchers have used this group as a study system to better understand the evolution of tropical rainforests.'

Mahogany had only been found dating back to the Paleocene around 60 million years ago but a study published today in the journal the American Journal of Botany found it was already well-established. 

This study puts the origin of mahogany around the time where ecosystems were modernising and diversification into modern plant groups.  

Today, mahogany is a sought after material and highly valued for its appearance and properties.   

Dr Atkinson said: 'You might own something made from mahogany like furniture, panelling or a musical instrument.'