Veres János: A bükkábrányi 8 millió éves mocsárerdő (Múzeumi Mozaik 7. Miskolc, 2007)

theories but it also poses a number of totally new possibilités and scientific questions. It is possible to obtain a load of information about the conditions regarding precipitation and atmosphere in the Carpathia Basin and thus in Central Europe millions of years ago, just by using the data from the trees' growth rings. The annual growth of a tree points to the climate, seasons and droughts. In theory DNA studies can be conducted if the sterile conditions will be satisfactory for sample taking in the fűmre. Paleobotanical studies can reveal the degree of evolutionary diversity between the 8 million-year old speciments and the species today. And if there isnt any differences in genetics could that mean that the evolutionary blueprint of the species is as perfect as can be? In comparison it is a moral issue to test human genes, that were changed a number of times during the evolution, againts the Austrolopithecus, Neanderthal and Homo sapiens. Nothing is to say that the stabil evolutionary route is any better than the flexible sensitivity of genetics of humankind. The bald cypresses are specific as to where they can flurish on the globe, whereas humans have been testing each and every corner of this world for inhabitation. Question after question. Everyone can run through his own theory according to his field and personality. And last lets look in the future: it is our responsibility to preserve these oldtimers for the decades to come as the scientists of the future will have to means to conduct studies we cant even concieve today. The preparation and exhibition of these tree stumps in a Pannon Sea era museum serves this very purpose. The study of carbon isotopes may well become more accurate to allow finer interpretation of timespans. Archeology is using the CI

4 isotope today which allows accurate timing to 50.000 B. C. if it is calibrated by growth rings and dendrocronological methods. It it isnt calibrated it allows for an 800-year inaccuracy in a timespan of only 3000 years. In other words the muhi battle of 1241 could be mistaken to have happened today. The ice sampling at the Anctartica allows for a