An exhilarating discovery of 377 million year old fossils has been made in Devon, according to council chiefs. Torbay Council revealed that the fossils of trees have been unearthed near Paignton, a find that has ignited excitement among the scientific community.
The fossils, identified as lycopsids, were discovered by Dr Kevin Page during a survey of Saltern Cove, part of the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark. Due to its importance, the discovery was kept confidential for a while as the Geopark organised a working group.
It is estimated that the tree fossil is 337 million years old. Specialists from the Universities of Exeter, Plymouth, Cardiff and Lille, along with Natural England, collaborated to ensure the best possible outcomes for the find.
According to BBC reports, Torbay Council stated that the trees would have resembled palm trees. Dr Page, president of ProGEO [the International Association for the Conservation of Geological Heritage] and honorary senior research fellow at Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter, described the discovery as a “remarkable find”.
This rare and unique discovery could represent the first record of a desert island with trees in Devon. Dr Page further commented: “These fossils are incredibly significant as they provide valuable insights into the prehistoric environment of Torbay, including the presence of volcanic islands with trees growing on them.Geopark coordinator Melanie Border said the fossil could open a ” Melanie Border, Geopark coordinator, suggested that the fossil could initiate a “new chapter” of changing environments and conditions at the site, reports the Express.
Until now, records have only indicated the existence of a marine environment, but evidence of volcanic islands and trees has also been discovered. Earlier this year, one of the oldest fossils ever found was discovered along the Devon and Somerset coastlines.
Scientists believe they have uncovered the world’s oldest fossil forest, estimated to be around 390 million years old, as reported by The Independent in March 2024.