UK Unearths Two Prehistoric Forests in Two Nations

While the planet has been inhabited for centuries, a large chunk of it is still a mystery to humankind. It is only upon exploring these areas that new discoveries of the known past or unknown discoveries to be research are exposed. This is often intentional, but sometimes a complete stroke of fate may do the hard work for us.

In an unexpected turn of events, archaeologists in the UK have discovered not one but two settlements dating back to prehistoric times. The first one is in the Doggerland region off the Norfolk coast, while the other is on a beach in Wales.

Just a month ago, an 11 day expedition led to the discovery of a fossilised forest under the North Sea, near the coast of Norfolk. According to archeologists, it indicates an ancient settlement that could be a part of the &ldquolost&rdquo Middle Stone Age or even the Mesolithic settlements of hunter-gatherers who lived around 10,000 years ago

Archaeologists on the expedition found a few artefacts that help them understand more of the civilisation that might have existed there. A large fragment of a stone hammer and a small piece of flint were found along with some wood samples. These suggest that the area situated 40 kilometres from what now is the Netherlands, was possibly a woodland.

While England discovered traces of an ancient settlement, Storm Hannah in Wales completely unearthed one. In unfortunately challenging climate, Storm Hannah swept through the United Kingdom, destroying property and leaving towns with no electricity. While, on the one hand it cast destruction, on the other, it unfolded an entire forest. Buried under the water and sand of a Welsh beach, a sunken forest was brought to surface as the storm pulled off the layers above it. It is being said that the forest can be dated to prehistoric times, over 4,500 years ago. Hundreds of trees were unveiled, revealing what is now believed to be of the Bronze age.

It is not the first time that this forest has been explored. While archeological discoveries -including footprints of humans and animals and even a few tree stumps- have been made earlier, the area has never been subject to scrutiny of this level before.

The discovery has given rise to a number of myths and legends, trying to solve the mystery of this unknown piece of land. While some associate the discovery with the legend of &lsquoThe Sunken Hundred&rsquo, in which the land is a part of the ancient forest of Borth and was once a town near fertile lands for farming. Others believe that the water swallowed the land when a princess Mererid, incharge of the fairy well, did not attend to her duties and let it overflow.