Scientists Discover Ice Age Forests in North Sea’s Sunken “Lost World”

Scientists Discover Ice Age Forests in North Sea’s Sunken “Lost World”
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A new study analyzing sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) has revealed that Doggerland, the now-submerged land beneath the North Sea, was covered by temperate forests far earlier than previously believed.

Led by researchers at the University of Warwick, the study shows that tree species such as oak, elm, and hazel were present more than 16,000 years ago, well before forests became common across Britain and northern Europe.

The research, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), also detected DNA from the walnut relative Pterocarya, a genus thought to have disappeared from northwestern Europe around 400,000 years ago, indicating it survived in the region far longer than assumed. Lime (Tilia) trees were identified roughly 2,000 years earlier than records from mainland Britain suggest.

The findings suggest Doggerland may have served as a northern refuge for plants, animals, and early humans, providing rich woodland habitats long before the emergence of Mesolithic cultures in Britain. Professor Robin Allaby of the University of Warwick said the results show the region could have supported early human communities prior to flooding, offering a new perspective on prehistoric settlement patterns in northern Europe.

Co-author Professor Vincent Gaffney added that Doggerland was not merely a land bridge but a vital ecological and cultural hub during the Ice Age.