The exhibition presents an extraordinary story of the natural science discovery of fir trunks, over 6,000 years old, which were found in 2023 in the silt and mud of Čadrg near Tolmin. These subfossil firs from Čadrg are considered to be presumably the oldest such find in Slovenia and the wider European area. The story of the fir trees is complemented and deepened by the final section of the exhibition, which focuses on the natural science research of objects from the collections of the Slovene Ethnographic Museum (SEM).

Centred on the prehistoric fir from Čadrg, the exhibition is the result of interdisciplinary cooperation between the Slovene Ethnographic Museum (Polona Sketelj, MA Curator for Architecture, Interior Equipment, and Living Culture at SEM), the Chair of Wood Technology at the Department of Wood Science and Technology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana (Assoc. Prof. Dr Maks Merela, Asst. Prof. Dr Angela Balzano, and Asst. Dr Daša Krapež), the discoverer and custodian of the wood Jani Kutin, and musician and instrument maker Samo Kutin. The graphic design was created by Maja Kocjan. The exhibition is thematically linked to the SEM permanent exhibition Man and Time: From Monday to Eternity, where a piece of this unique fir is displayed among exceptional finds in the chapter Does Time Layer?

The Interplay of Remote Past and Present
A special feature of the exhibition is the direct contact with prehistoric fir wood. It guides visitors through the entire process – from the accidental discovery of the fir tree in the mud to precise natural science analyses, dating, and placement within a broader scientific context. The found trunks carry many messages about the growth of fir trees and their natural environment. To breathe new life into this precious wood, contemporary artists have transformed the well-preserved timber primarily into musical instruments. The discovery thus unites various disciplines and numerous individuals who have created a remarkable story of the interplay between the distant past and the present, with a view towards the future. Among the exhibits are a flute and a wind harp made from prehistoric fir wood. Visitors can also watch a film vignette about the discovery of the Čadrg firs and the making of a violin from this precious wood, as well as a presentation of the dendrochronological analysis process at the Department of Wood Science and Technology.

The concluding part of the exhibition, designed by curators Dr Bojana Rogelj Škafar and Dr Marko Frelih, reveals how modern natural science helps us understand the invisible layers of the past. The exhibition presents various methods for analysing the colour layers and wood of four painted beehive panels. Based on the results, it is possible to formulate guidelines for conservation procedures to preserve their historical significance, and in the future, perhaps even determine the origin of the objects.

Also highlighted are the results of analyses of a unique collection of paper Islamic-African talismans. SEM also obtained significant data from two samples from Egypt: a clay figurine of the god Harpocrates and a mummified part of a human leg. The results obtained open new paths for the interpretation of museum heritage through the use of state-of-the-art technologies.