Of course not everything is natural
The perfect optical illusion
![733x414-baum1 Eocene](https://assets.rrz.uni-hamburg.de/instance_assets/zentrale/14965500/733x414-baum1-286cb8d2c3b21ea82008e2d0c3af1250039e8b85.jpg)
Photo: UHH/CeNak, Matthias Preuß
The selected tree is perfect in size and shape for the purpose of the exhibition.
![733x414-baum2 Eocene](https://assets.rrz.uni-hamburg.de/instance_assets/zentrale/14965529/733x414-baum2-490a4aa4203cf5e0b61f7f1f803e34a064463253.jpg)
Photo: UHH/CeNak, Matthias Preuß
Wrapped in foil, the tree is transported to the Museum of Nature - Zoology.
![733x414-baum3 Eocene](https://assets.rrz.uni-hamburg.de/instance_assets/zentrale/14965589/733x414-baum3-b0ca4b9ff0de2681af66bb6dbc4a758596975668.jpg)
Photo: UHH/CeNak, Matthias Preuß
The root zone was shortened to the above-ground part; the root ends were supplemented.
![733x414-baum4 Eocene](https://assets.rrz.uni-hamburg.de/instance_assets/zentrale/14965559/733x414-baum4-78c47c7ccecbf61037bb757e58d707833cbb233e.jpg)
Photo: UHH/CeNak, Matthias Preuß
As a matter of course, the tree should fit into the exhibition.
![733x414-ameise Eocene](https://assets.rrz.uni-hamburg.de/instance_assets/zentrale/14965618/733x414-ameise-d984995509a99329dfbe4047b15733a62a8fa589.jpg)
Photo: UHH/CeNak, Matthias Preuß
And just as (seemingly) naturally, molded giant ants crawl along the trunk at the end