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>> yes, tom, the smallest possible one. very small piece. >> we only need about ten milligrams. >> that's equivalent to a few grains of salt. but this relic has been venerated here for almost 1,000 years. every speck counts. >> it's very, very hard, this wood. >> could that mean anything to do with its age? >> i mean, it actually looks old. it looks aged. so far, so good. >> tom is satisfied with his sample. now they can head back to the lab to test for the first time this piece of the true cross.

Business. >> i'm just going to take a small bit from here. >> yes, tom, the smallest possible one. very small piece. >> we only need about ten milligrams. >> that's equivalent to a few grains of salt. but this relic has been venerated here for almost 1,000 years. every speck counts. >> it's very, very hard, this wood. >> could that mean anything to do with its age? >> i mean, it actually looks old. it looks aged. so far, so good. >> tom is satisfied with his sample. now they can head back to the lab to test for the first time this piece of the true cross. eighth century before the waterford cr...

Damage, in theory. but it's a nerve-racking business. >> i'm just going to take a small bit from here. >> yes, tom, the smallest possible one. very small piece. >> we only need about ten milligrams. >> that's equivalent to a few grains of salt. but this relic has been venerated here for almost 1,000 years. every speck counts. >> it's very, very hard, this wood. >> could that mean anything to do with its age? >> i mean, it actually looks old. it looks aged. so far, so good. >> tom is satisfied with his sample. now they can head back to the lab to test for the first time this piece of the true c...

Very small piece. >> we only need about ten milligrams. >> that's equivalent to a few grains of salt. but this relic has been venerated here for almost 1,000 years. every speck counts. >> it's very, very hard, this wood. >> could that mean anything to do with its age? >> i mean, it actually looks old. it looks aged. so far, so good. >> tom is satisfied with his sample. now they can head back to the lab to test for the first time this piece of the true cross.

>> there's quite a lot of what looks like lacquer that's across the top of the wood. and lacquer will have a different radial carbon concentration, probably to the age of the wood. but unfortunately pieces of the material have been taken, and that exposes the actual wood. so that's a good place for us to take the sample from. >> the procedure should leave little perceptible trace of damage, in theory. but it's a nerve-racking business. >> i'm just going to take a small bit from here. >> yes, tom, the smallest possible one. very small piece. >> we only need about ten milligrams. >> that's equiv...