Some physical and mechanical properties of the Bednja abonos

Oakwood buried in the ground, or abonos, is subfossil wood which has been exposed for a very long time to the process of humidification under the influence of running fresh water. It is black in colour due to a chemical reaction between the tanstuff in the wood and the contents of iron in the water. Besides this change in colour, there are some other significant alterations of the physical und mechanical properties of oak wood. Although some of its properties have changed for the worse compared to the recent oakwood, there is a great demand for the oak abonos, especialy when used as veneer, for interior furnishing and manufacture of precious furniture, parts of musical instruments und decorative woodwork.