A “lost world” beneath the North Sea was once full of forests

Beneath the North Sea lies a captivating “lost world” known as Doggerland, once a thriving landscape filled with lush forests. New DNA evidence shows that oak, elm, and hazel trees flourished there over 16,000 years ago, significantly earlier than previously believed. This research not only reshapes our understanding of prehistoric ecosystems but also uncovers traces of a tree species thought to have disappeared from the region hundreds of thousands of years ago. These findings highlight the rich biodiversity that once existed in this submerged haven.