Gilboa Fossil Forest, Petrified forest in Schoharie County, New York, United States.
The Gilboa Fossil Forest contains petrified tree stumps and plant remains from 385 million years ago during the Devonian period. The fossils appear at three locations: the Gilboa Dam site, the New York Power Authority Blenheim-Gilboa Visitor Center, and the New York State Museum.
Workers found the fossilized stumps during the 1920s while constructing a water supply project. That discovery led to the creation of the Gilboa Dam, which now supplies water to New York City.
The fossils show a moment when plants were just beginning to cover the land, revealing an early chapter in forest development. Visitors can observe these ancient organisms at multiple locations and grasp how different Earth appeared back then.
The fossils are spread across multiple locations, allowing visitors to explore them on their own schedule. It helps to visit all three sites to gain a complete understanding of these ancient remains.
The site preserves Wattieza trees, among the oldest known tree species to ever exist. These fossils offer scientists insight into how forests first began on our planet.
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