Researchers at Cardiff University have made a groundbreaking discovery, uncovering the earliest fossil evidence of ancient forests in the British record dating back 390 million years. The study, focusing on the Middle Devonian Hangman Sandstone Formation in Somerset and Devon, showcases an ancient forest landscape dominated by cladoxylopsid trees.
Dr. Christopher Berry, leading the research, identified the oldest fossil trees ever found in Britain, Calamophyton trees. These trees had narrow trunks and twig-like structures protruding from branches, forming densely spaced forests that shed abundant plant debris. The discovery at Culver Cliff in Somerset included 17 cladoxylopsid tree trunks preserved on a single bedding surface, offering insight into the spacing and density of ancient forests.
The researchers suggest that these ancient forests played a crucial role in shaping early riverbanks, with their roots helping to hold soil together, creating the phenomenon of tree-lined riverbanks. Evidence of plant-sediment interactions and vegetation-induced sedimentary structures were found, showing how these trees altered Earth’s landscapes and biosphere during the Devonian period.
The findings from the Hangman Sandstone Formation provide compelling evidence that the Eifelian Stage marked the onset of significant tree-driven changes to physical environments, offering insight into how early land-based ecosystems formed. This discovery sheds light on the evolution of forests and their impact on the environment during this ancient period.
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