A team of geologists have discovered 280 million-year-old tree fossils from what is believed to be the oldest polar forest found in Antarctica -- dating back to before the first dinosaurs walked the Earth.<br /><br />Pictured: Paleoecologist Erik Gulbranson from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee studies a fossilized tree he brought back from Antarctica.
A team of geologists have discovered 280 million-year-old tree fossils from what is believed to be the oldest polar forest found in Antarctica -- dating back to before the first dinosaurs walked the Earth.

Pictured: Paleoecologist Erik Gulbranson from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee studies a fossilized tree he brought back from Antarctica.
Troye Fox/UWM Photo Services
But this is not the first tree fossil found in the Antarctic Peninsula. During his fateful 1911-12 South Pole expedition, British explorer Captain Robert F. Scott collected rocks containing 250 million-year-old fossilized seed ferns.
But this is not the first tree fossil found in the Antarctic Peninsula. During his fateful 1911-12 South Pole expedition, British explorer Captain Robert F. Scott collected rocks containing 250 million-year-old fossilized seed ferns.
Bettmann Archive/getty images
Scientists have since uncovered further evidence of plant life on the continent, including this fossilized fern from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) fossil collection.
Scientists have since uncovered further evidence of plant life on the continent, including this fossilized fern from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) fossil collection.
British Antarctic Survey
While Antarctica today is an inhospitable, icy desert, these seed fern fossils prove that it once had a climate warm enough to support plant life. <br />Captain Scott's fossil discovery reinforced the emerging theory at the time that Antarctica was once part of Gondwana -- a supercontinent that incorporated present-day Africa, South America, Arabia, India and Australia -- as similar fossils were found in these regions.
While Antarctica today is an inhospitable, icy desert, these seed fern fossils prove that it once had a climate warm enough to support plant life.
Captain Scott's fossil discovery reinforced the emerging theory at the time that Antarctica was once part of Gondwana -- a supercontinent that incorporated present-day Africa, South America, Arabia, India and Australia -- as similar fossils were found in these regions.
Handout/Getty Images South America
Subsequent expeditions to the Antarctic Peninsula have unearthed hundreds of amphibian and reptile fossils. This lobster fossil (Hoploparia stokesi) from the BAS fossil collection was found in the Upper Cretaceous (100.5 - 66 million years ago) when the dinosaurs disappeared from the Earth.
Subsequent expeditions to the Antarctic Peninsula have unearthed hundreds of amphibian and reptile fossils. This lobster fossil (Hoploparia stokesi) from the BAS fossil collection was found in the Upper Cretaceous (100.5 - 66 million years ago) when the dinosaurs disappeared from the Earth.
British Antarctic Survey
The very first dinosaur remains were discovered in the Antarctic region in 1986, followed four years later by the discovery of the first carnivorous dinosaur in Antarctica -- the Cryolophosaurus Ellioti. Measuring 21.3 feet and weighing 1,025 pounds, the Cryolophosaurus Ellioti (pictured) was one of the largest theropods of its time.<br />
The very first dinosaur remains were discovered in the Antarctic region in 1986, followed four years later by the discovery of the first carnivorous dinosaur in Antarctica -- the Cryolophosaurus Ellioti. Measuring 21.3 feet and weighing 1,025 pounds, the Cryolophosaurus Ellioti (pictured) was one of the largest theropods of its time.
KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images
Further fossil remains of a 70 million-year-old dinosaur were collected on a scientific cruise during 1988-89. The fragmented bones of the skull, fore limbs and vertebral column are believed to belong to a hypsilophodontid dinosaur measuring five meters.<br />
Further fossil remains of a 70 million-year-old dinosaur were collected on a scientific cruise during 1988-89. The fragmented bones of the skull, fore limbs and vertebral column are believed to belong to a hypsilophodontid dinosaur measuring five meters.
British Antarctic Survey
The BAS fossil collection contains approximately 40,000 fossil specimens from Antarctica, including ammonites (pictured) dating back to the Cretaceous period. Both ammonites and dinosaurs disappeared during the same extinction event.
Ammonite —
The BAS fossil collection contains approximately 40,000 fossil specimens from Antarctica, including ammonites (pictured) dating back to the Cretaceous period. Both ammonites and dinosaurs disappeared during the same extinction event.
British Antarctic Survey