Researchers discovered the world’s oldest ancient forest in an abandoned quarry near Cairo, New York. These fossils, found in strata dating back 385 million years, retain the petrified roots of countless ancient trees. This discovery marks a watershed point in Earth’s history. As trees formed these roots, they played an important part in absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, sequestering it, and causing a profound shift in the planet’s climate, resulting in the environment we know today. According to the BBC, the team was always aware of the old forest’s existence, but this was the first time it had been thoroughly researched to determine the ages of the plants and trees living there.
The old forest contained remnants of early plants, some of which are thought to have existed during the dinosaur age
The old forest contained remnants of early plants, some of which are thought to have existed during the dinosaur age. Researchers from the University of Binghamton in the United States and the University of Cardiff in Wales believe that the forest formerly covered an area of about 400 kilometers (250 miles). The region’s charting began half a decade ago, in 2019.Researchers discovered the Earth’s oldest known forest after examining fossils from various plants and trees in the area. The Amazon rainforest and Japan’s Yakushima Forest are two notable examples of ancient woods.
Their discovery involves the study of palaeobotany. Paleo means old, or ancient, and botany is the study of plants – so it means studying ancient plants. “You are walking through the roots of ancient trees,” Dr Christopher Berry, Paleobotanist, Cardiff University. In contrast to the bulk of modern trees, the old trees in this forest did not spread by the discharge of seeds that grew into new trees. Several ancient trees identified in this woodland used spores for reproduction. If you’ve studied mushrooms, the term “spores” may sound familiar since they, too, disperse and grow by releasing spores into the air.
