One of the huge fossile trees in the UNESCO geoparc of Sigri
One of the huge fossile trees in the UNESCO geoparc of Sigri

A few years ago petrified wood was discovered near the village of Sigri. Excavations started and a complete forest was discovered. More and more sites have been discovered since that time and so all the island of Lesbos is protected as an UNESCO geoparc. The fossile forest was preserved by the ash of volcanic eruptions that took place 23 million years ago. The volcanic centers of these eruptions can still be seen on the island.

 

Photos of the fossile trees
This landscape was once a dense forest
This landscape was once a dense forest
Fossile tree
Fossile tree
A detail of fossile wood
A detail of fossile wood
A fossile tree, today consisting of opal and quartz
A fossile tree, today consisting of opal and quartz
One of the most beautiful samples of fossile trees at the UNESCO geoparc of Sigri.
One of the most beautiful samples of fossile trees at the UNESCO geoparc of Sigri.
A fossile tree
A fossile tree
Fosslie trees in the original position
Fosslie trees in the original position
One of the biggest fossile trees in the UNESCO geoparc on Lesbos island
One of the biggest fossile trees in the UNESCO geoparc on Lesbos island
A detail of fossile wood
A detail of fossile wood
Flowers in a fossile wood
Flowers in a fossile wood
Detail of fossile wood, changed into opal
Detail of fossile wood, changed into opal
Fossile wood
Fossile wood
In opal chemically changed fossile wood
In opal chemically changed fossile wood
A fossile wood that is today a gem
A fossile wood that is today a gem
Fibers of wood beded into opal
Fibers of wood beded into opal
Tobias Schorr next to a fossile tree
Tobias Schorr next to a fossile tree
Fossile trees at Sigri
Fossile trees at Sigri
A lizard (agame) on a wall
A lizard (agame) on a wall
The colour of the fossile wood due to minerals
The colour of the fossile wood due to minerals
Fossile wood
Fossile wood
Also outside the excavations there are many places, where you could find fossile wood, but please not that it is not permitted to keep it! All the island is a strictly protected geoparc by UNESCO.
Also outside the excavations there are many places, where you could find fossile wood, but please not that it is not permitted to keep it! All the island is a strictly protected geoparc by UNESCO.