Discover a rare tree fossil with intact branches and roots for 20 million years

Reuters reported on the 27th (local time) that a rare fossilized tree with its branches and roots still intact was found on the volcanic island of Lesbos in Greece, even after 20 million years.

Tree fossils with intact branches and roots have been found in a fossil forest on the Greek volcanic island of Lesbos. [사진 그리스시티타임즈]

The tree was accidentally discovered during the construction of an ancient fossil forest road in Lesbos, a UNESCO protected area where various plant fossils are preserved.

“It is the first time since excavation began in 1995, a tree with such intact branches and roots has been discovered,” said Nikos Joos Lesbos, a professor at the Natural History Museum.

Wooden fossils that have been completely preserved even after 20 million years. [사진 그리스시티타임즈]

Tree fossils that remain intact. [사진 그리스시티타임즈]

Workers are moving wooden fossils with a crane from the Lesbos fossil forest, Greece [로이터=연합뉴스]

The Lesbos Fossil Forest was formed by lava and volcanic ash erupted from a volcanic eruption about 20 million years ago, rapidly covering an ecosystem in a subtropical climate rich in various plants.

The discovery is hoped to help scientists uncover the secrets of the primitive ecosystem of the Lesbos fossil forest.

The island of Lesbos is an island on the southeastern coast of Greece, close to Turkey. Turkey ruled in 1462-1913, but became a Greek territory after World War I.