Oak sludge that was removed from the river, or dug in marshy areas, is preserved from deterioration due to the acid and anaerobic conditions of mud and marshes which be preserved for thousands of years. That oak has brown spots or patches that are colored by the influence of the tannin in acid water. This is due to early wood fossilization phase which after million years results in production of lignite, that is coal. Oak which aged in such conditions two to seven thousand years is called abonos or fossil oak. These oak trees primarily grew by the river banks, in swamp areas. They are found during underwater proceedings, digging out gravel, drying out swamps etc.Beside oak, the same process happens to other trees, for example to pines and cypress, but oak, because of its special characteristics, is by far mostly appreciated in the production of artistic and different useful objects, mostly for furniture and carvings. The fossil oak can sometimes like a floodplain tree, have interesting esthetic shapes so as such can be used as a decorative element. In the process of drying ebony, you can find slots and cracks which are interesting for forming sculptures.
Although, it is not known who and where first started using fossil oak in order to produce decorative objects, many examples point out to such practice, especially in England, Ireland and Germany(especially found by the river Rajna) For example, English ebony oak, is usually lighter than the others, extremely appreciated because of its chocolate nuances and solidity. These nuances were not found in fresh trees. Fossil oak was firstly used for production of furniture and baubles, to be later used for equipment of fireplaces, pen stands and storage for ink, knife handles, boxes for cards, check sets etc.
A German company "Fritz Kohl" specialized in production of fossil oak, expands the existence of this kind of tree from 800 to 8.500 years, whereas an American expert Charles Stem, the president of the Wood Gallery Inc. company from Indiana, points out a larger importance of ebony: "Fossil oak, because of its conditions in which it evolved, represents the bond with our amazingly rich history and thus teaches us about our history."
We should be aware that ebony (in the past known under the name "black oak") is an extremely rare and expensive tree, therefore mostly used for decorating exclusive spaces. Beside its esthetic characteristic, the fossil oak carries in itself a certain amount of mystery.” This tree is sold by its history. Sojourning in a place which has been decorated by fossil oak fosters interesting conversation, the reason being the unusual fact to people that the walls are covered with oak which is more than thousand years old or that they can sit as well on such old chairs» claims Cam Gantz, the American associate to "Fritz Kohl" company.
In the seventies, when the fossil oak was not in trend or modern, in one edition of the American magazine Country Life, G.BERNARD Hughes, explains the mystery of the ebony tree: " The oak is actually coal in its first phase of development, and is composed of tar, ammonium, acid...It is a tree which was conserved in mud and swamps, and discovered by people thousand years later who chopped wood for fire or dug out gravel. Most part of the oak is extremely solid, equally structured and black as ebony. When found next to the river in which sea salt advanced, the fossil oak commonly has bluish tones. Otherwise, the color varies, from bluish-black to brownish-black, depending of its age and the place where it was found".
Replacement for fossil oak, with far most lessened characteristics than the thousand year old oak, is the oak of about hundred years. This oak is considerably more accessible than the rare kind of ebony. Both materials, because of their mechanical, chemical and esthetic characteristics are very demanded, in art and in production of musical instruments. Moreover, they are very popular in decoration of exterior and interior decoration of houses, flats, business offices and vessels. The oak tree ebony is also used for different objects decorations, aquariums and functions as a cache for fish.It is also used for art and different items. The fossil oak is especially appreciated in the production of exclusive massive furniture, wall coating, floor coating and carved objects. Its most important characteristic is its endurance representing invaluable art material, has a decorative value and most of all is solid, which makes it-EVERLASTING.