Did you know about the oldest forest ever discovered? Researchers from the Universities of Cambridge and Cardiff recently uncovered a 390-million-year-old fossilized forest in England, nestled along striking sandstone cliffs.

This ancient forest is unlike anything we see today and is detailed in a recent paper in the Journal of Geological Study. The trees, resembling giant 13-foot thistles, are among the earliest to have existed on Earth. One interesting feature of these trees, known as Calamophyton, is their hollow trunks made up of smaller, multiple trunk-like strands. As these trees grew thicker and larger, they would eventually split apart.

Cambridge Earth Sciences professor Neil Davies described the forest as “pretty weird” compared to modern forests. With no undergrowth or grass, the landscape was dominated by densely-packed trees that dropped twigs, shaping the environment.

The ancient forest was discovered in South West England, specifically in Devon and Somerset counties. Fossilized remains such as logs, branches, and stumps provide valuable insights into the Devonian Period, a crucial time in Earth’s history. During this period, the first land animals emerged, and plants began reproducing by seeds.

This discovery sheds light on how the first forests influenced the land, as the branches from these trees helped build up sediment and alter the course of ancient rivers. Davies emphasized the significant impact of the Devonian period on Earth’s ecosystems and highlighted how little is known about the earliest forests.

This remarkable find offers a glimpse into Earth’s past and underscores the importance of understanding how ancient forests played a role in shaping our planet.