Researchers have made a fascinating discovery in the Fichtel Mountains near Selb, shedding light on the prehistoric past. In a volcanic crater, they found 20-million-year-old tree pollen, which has allowed them to reconstruct the forest of that time. This find has provided valuable insights into the vegetation in the area during that period.
The volcanic crater in the Fichtel Mountains was created by a major eruption millions of years ago. However, this natural disaster has turned out to be fortuitous for modern research, as it has preserved pollen from that era. Geoscientists from the Technical University of Darmstadt were commissioned to collect fossil pollen from the crater, leading to the discovery of the primeval forest that once thrived in the region.
The research has revealed a fascinating timeline of how the vegetation evolved in the area after the volcanic eruption. Ferns were the first to grow, followed by elms and hickory trees. Eventually, a mixed forest of pine, spruce, copper beech, chestnut, and walnut plants emerged. This sequence of plant growth provides valuable insights into the ecological history of the Fichtel Mountains and gives us a glimpse into the ancient environment that existed there.
The findings from this discovery have opened up new possibilities for studying the region’s geological and ecological past. By piecing together
