Giant Fossilized Tree Trunk Unveiled in Varos, Lemnos

A nine‑metre long fossilized tree trunk, estimated to be about 23 million years old, has been exposed near the settlement of Varos on the island of Lemnos, Greece.

The trunk belongs to the Lemnos Fossil Forest, a natural monument formed when widespread Miocene volcanic eruptions covered dense forests in the northeastern Aegean and Anatolia. Exceptional preservation retains growth rings, bark impressions and internal wood structure, enabling detailed study of the ancient species and the region’s paleo‑environment.

The find was presented by Professor Nikos Zouros, director of the Museum of Natural History of the Fossil Forest of Lesbos, which is responsible for protecting the site that was designated a protected natural monument in 2013.