Have you ever come across the oldest forest ever discovered? Researchers from the Universities of Cambridge and Cardiff have made an incredible discovery in England—a 390-million-year-old fossilized forest nestled along stunning sandstone cliffs.

This ancient woodland, unlike any we see today, is the subject of a recent study published in the Journal of Geological Study. The trees, which resemble enormous thistles standing 13 feet tall, are among the earliest known trees on Earth. A fascinating characteristic of these trees, called Calamophyton, is their hollow trunks, made up of numerous smaller, trunk-like strands. As these trees grew thicker and larger, they eventually split apart.

Neil Davies, a professor in Earth Sciences at Cambridge, described the forest as “pretty weird” when compared to contemporary woodlands. The landscape lacked undergrowth and grass, featuring densely packed trees that shed twigs, which significantly influenced their surroundings.

The ancient forest was discovered in the southwestern region of England, specifically within the counties of Devon and Somerset. Fossilized remains, including logs, branches, and stumps, offer a glimpse into the Devonian Period, a pivotal era in Earth’s history. This period marked the advent of the first land-dwelling animals and the development of seed-bearing plants.

This remarkable discovery enhances our understanding of how early forests impacted the landscape, with branches from these trees contributing to sediment buildup and altering the pathways of ancient rivers. Davies highlighted the profound influence of the Devonian period on Earth’s ecosystems and noted the limited knowledge we have regarding the earliest forests.

This extraordinary find provides a vivid glimpse into our planet’s history and underscores the significance of ancient forests in shaping the world we know today.