• By Travelspoc

Uk: World’S Oldest Fossil Forest Dating Back 390 Million Years Discovered

Among the world’s ancient forests, an unexpected treasure lies nestled in upstate New York—a discovery that defies expectations. If reports are to go by, at the heart of Cairo, USA, lies a network of trees believed to have once stretched over 400 km (250 miles), concealed at the base of a sandstone quarry.

This fossil forest, estimated to be a staggering 386 million years old, surpasses even the age of renowned natural wonders like the Amazon rainforest, India’s legendary jungles, and the remote forests of southeast Asia.

In a collaborative effort led by scientists from Binghamton University, New York State Museum, and Cardiff University, a detailed mapping of approximately 3,000 sq m of the forest was undertaken in 2019. Within the foothills of the Catskill Mountains in the Hudson Valley, this ancient woodland offers a glimpse into a primordial ecosystem. Among its inhabitants are early plants known as cladoxylopsids, reminiscent of ferns, and Archaeopteris trees adorned with frond-like branches. Additionally, a single specimen of a third tree type, possibly a lycopod, was unearthed, adding to the forest’s botanical diversity.

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