The oldest forest in the world discovered, the trees are hundreds of years old on average

LONDON – The highest sea cliff in English holds a hidden treasure: the oldest fossil forest ever discovered on Earth. This forest, inhabited by palm-like trees called Calamophytons, is 390 million years old.

The discovery overturned the previous record held by a forest in New York State, which was about three or four million years younger.

As reported by Science Alert Sunday (17/3/2024), previously, the red sandstone surface in southwest England where this fossil was found was considered “without trace fossils”.

However, recent research shows that this location holds a fascinating picture of life in the Devonian Period. At that time, falling sea levels created two large continents: Gondwana and Euramerica.

Primitive animals and plants took advantage of this new environment quickly. The first trees to inhabit this supercontinent were different from the trees we know today.

Originally, they had no roots, leaves, spores, seeds, or vascular systems to transport water and nutrients. This forces them to live near coastlines and rivers.

Calamophyton trees found on the Somerset coastline near Minehead have developed roots and vascular tissue in their trunks, but only reach two to four meters in height, with thin, hollow trunks.

Previously, fossils of similar creatures had been found in Germany, New York and China. When the Gondwana supercontinent existed, Germany and this part of England were connected, so it was natural that they would have the same vegetation.

Dr. Christopher Berry from Cardiff University, who was involved in the research, commented: “When I first saw the image of the tree trunk, I immediately knew what it was, based on 30 years of studying this type of tree around the world. It was amazing to see them so close to home.”