Rare 20 million year old fossilized tree 62 feet tall discovered in Greece with branches and roots still intact was preserved from an ancient volcanic eruption
- A 62-foot petrified tree was discovered during road works in western Lesvos
- It is the first tree fossil in the region whose branches are still in good condition
- The orientation of the tree confirms that there is a second volcano on the island
- Some petrified trees are so lifelike that bark and cell structures are visible
Scientists in Greece have discovered a rare petrified tree whose branches and roots are still intact after millions of years.
The 62-meter-high tree was found during road works near an ancient forest on the island of Lesbos that was petrified by a volcanic eruption some 20 million years ago.
Petrified wood is actually a fossil that is formed when a tree is covered with volcanic ash and its organic remains are slowly replaced by minerals.
The tree has been removed from the road with a special splint and metal platform and will be on display in the coming months.
This is the first time a preserved tree in such good condition has been found in the area since excavations began in 1995.
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An 18 meter long petrified tree was discovered on the Greek island of Lesbos with its branches and roots still intact. Scientists link the fossil to a volcanic eruption some 20 million years ago
Nikos Zouros, a geomorphologist at the Natural History Museum of the Lesbos Petrified Forest, called it a ‘unique find’.
“To date, no corresponding trunk of a petrified tree with intact branches has been found, which has been kept in good condition to this day,” said Zouros.
“It has been preserved in excellent condition and by studying the petrified wood we can determine from which type of plant it comes.”
Protected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the 37,000 hectare petrified forest of Lesvos is the result of a volcanic eruption 20 million years ago that choked Lesvos subtropical ecosystem in lava.
According to researchers, the orientation of the tribe confirms the existence of a second volcano on Lesbos
After it fell, the tree was preserved by a thick layer of volcanic ash.
A large number of fruit tree leaves, as well as various animal bones, were found in the same spot.
“The excavations uncover the different forests that existed on Lesvos between 17 and 20 million years ago and allow us to reconstruct the ecosystem that existed during that period,” Zouros said.
The well-preserved trunk was uncovered during demolition works on asphalt along the Kalloni-Sigri Road in western Lesvos.
This is the first time a preserved tree in such good condition has been found in the area since excavations began in 1995
‘It has been preserved in excellent condition and by studying the petrified wood we can identify the type of plant it comes from,’ say researchers.
“The tree is in its native growing position, and it looks like the force of the volcanic eruption put it on the ground where it was found,” Zouros said.
The tribe’s orientation confirms the existence of a second volcano on the island, he added.
Petrified wood occurs when plant material is buried by sediment in such a way that it is protected from the decay caused by microorganisms.
The plant’s original substance is eventually replaced by minerals such as silica, pyrite and calcite, according to Geology.com, resulting in a fossil that can preserve details of the tree’s bark and even details of its cellular structures.
Petrified wood occurs when plant material is buried by sediment in such a way that it is protected from the decay caused by microorganisms
Another petrified tree in the Petrified Forest National Park on Lesvos. Some trees are so well preserved that even bark and cell structures are still visible
Some petrified wood is so “lifelike” that it is not clear they are fossils until someone tries to pick them up.
Petrified trees can provide rare insights into ecosystems from millions of years ago: In August, scientists in Peru discovered a petrified tree some 10 million years old, indicating how the Andean environment has dramatically changed over time .
Although the fossil was found more than 4,000 meters above sea level, its anatomy was very similar to that of wood found in low-lying tropical forests.