Reflections on my time alone in the World’s oldest known forest upon the upcoming October exhibition Symbiocene Era: Artists Envision Environmental Symbiosis – Bushel Collective – Delphi, NY – where some images from this encounter will be up for view.

Being one who spends their weekends seeking out interesting rock formations and places where deep-time stories emerge from the earth and are exposed to those who revel in the awe of these places, stumbling upon an online article about the World’s oldest know forest** within a short drive of my home was a call from the rocks that I could not ignore.  Fortunately, my personal discovery of this place had come before the state museum had returned to the site to preserve some of the precious ancient beings that were discovered there, and before a chain link fence was erected to keep out those who knowingly or unknowingly could destroy the site.  I was kindly and graciously granted access to the site by it’s guardians, and escorted to the area that was discovered and uncovered, along the floor of an old stone quarry in the town of Cairo, NY. My escort pointed out the area of interest, then drove away – leaving me alone with the preserved, stony remains of an 385 year old ancient forest floor.

Here in this quiet unassuming place, marks a discovery of a turning point in our planet’s history.  The ancient root systems of Archaeopteris, similar to those of our modern tress, helped pull carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air and lock it away, radically shifting our planet’s climate and leading to the atmosphere we know and thrive within today.

Though it has been a few years now since my visit, I can still recall the utter sense of awe I experienced being alone amongst these ancient remains.  Placing my hand upon the sprawling, stony roots – palm to earth, eyes closed, allowing my mind to transport me through layers of time and strata to when these trees stood tall in this place, was a humbling experience and exchange.  I took time to simply sit in the wonder of this moment, in my aloneness, in the company of these ancient kin and to be fully present in the importance of their emergence – both past and present. It is in silence where we share a language, and where stories are slowly revealed and shared.

I began to wander, slowly, carefully, with intent – meandering through the maze of colorful rocks and roots, observing deeply the details embedded in this former forest floor.  Orange and red stains mark the crackling structure of the fossils from palesols and outwash siltstones, lending vibrant colors and textures amongst the crawling, outstretched arms of ancient roots. I looked more closely, honing in on ever emerging details, and slowly, deep blue marks became visible within the grey palesol beds.  These shiny, textured blue marks I later learned were the fossils of fish – speaking their own stories of the ancient flood that brought them here to lie in repose amongst the roots – a catastrophic deluge that may have been the demise of the woody kin that once stood sentinel here.

I marvel (as I often do when I have time to connect with deep-time lithic kin) at the stories that they hold, and have held through millions of years, through heat and pressure, erosion and movement – and that we, in this very small blip of time, have ended up in the same place and they encompass the agency to share these stories with me, and with any who chose to look and listen.

I am forever grateful for this experience, not just for my time there, but for the the knowledge that these ancient stony roots are part of the reason why I am here today, sharing my stories amongst the stones.

** Please note that the site where these ancient beings are preserved is not open to the public, and special permission was granted to visit the site.

Fore more information: Mid-Devonian Archaeopteris Roots Signal Revolutionary Change in Earliest Fossil Forests