In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have unearthed the world’s oldest fossilised forest in South West England, pushing back the timeline of known forest ecosystems by four million years and offering new insights into ancient plant life and landscapes.
In a significant scientific breakthrough, researchers have discovered the world’s oldest fossilised forest along the coast of South West England, near Minehead in Somerset. Dated back to the Devonian Period, between 419 and 358 million years ago, the fossilised calamophyton trees are believed to be the most ancient of their kind found to date, making Britain home to the oldest known forest on Earth. These trees, which resembled palm trees, stood between two to four metres tall and were instrumental in shaping ancient landscapes and stabilising riverbanks and coastlines.
Leading the study, Professor Neil Davies from the University of Cambridge, described the ancient forest as remarkably different from those of today, characterising it as dense with trees but devoid of undergrowth or grass. Dr. Christopher Berry from Cardiff University and Dr. Paul Kenrick from the Natural History Museum also contributed to the findings, adding insights into the evolution of plant life and the ecological impact of these early forests. The research illustrates how these prehistoric trees played a critical role in their ecosystems, akin to the role of modern tree ferns like Dicksonia antarctica.
This groundbreaking discovery not only pushes back the timeline of known forest ecosystems by four million years but also offers new perspectives on the evolution of terrestrial landscapes and plant life on Earth. Published in the Journal of the Geological Society, the study emphasizes the significance of revisiting and re-examining British rock formations for new discoveries.
In a separate but equally profound discovery, stone tools found at an archaeological site in Ukraine suggest the oldest evidence of human presence in Europe, dating back approximately 1.4 million years. Unearthed in western Ukraine at the Korolevo site, these tools may have been crafted by Homo erectus, indicating early human migration into Europe from the east or southeast. The research published in the journal Nature, led by Dr. Roman Garba, highlights the potential migration corridors used by our ancestors during warmer climatic periods and offers new insights into the early movements and adaptations of human populations in Europe.
These findings, from the discovery of the oldest fossilised forest in England to the uncovering of ancient human-made tools in Ukraine, expand our understanding of Earth’s history, showcasing the dynamic processes that have shaped both the planet’s landscapes and the development of human civilization.
