Site of old riverbed reveals remainders of prehistoric forest

ABCOUDE – The discovery of the remainders of upright trees at an archeological site near the western Dutch town of Abcoude is not only a bonus to the archeologists researching traces of a medieval hamlet but also is further evidence of ancient forests in the country. Archeologists are amazed at the quality of these remainders, which have been preserved remarkably well near the old riverbed of the Angstel. Over time, the tree trunks were covered by sandy silt. Based on data gleaned from research on tree rings, the tree trunks date from prehistoric to about early medieval times. The discovery has dismissed the notion that oak trees only grow in sandy regions, here they reached maturity in a low lying and flood-prone district. It was also established that this prehistoric forest was vastly different from forests as they are known today.