Newly-found fossils shed light on Turkey's continental history

By Gunay Nuh

ERZURUM, Turkey (AA) - Tree fossils recently discovered in eastern Turkey have provided insights into the country’s climatic history, an Istanbul University’s faculty of forestry member said Wednesday.

Professor Unal Akkemik told Anadolu Agency that fossils dating back 160-170 million years were found in Narman district in eastern Erzurum province.

Conducting research across Turkey to explore tree species from past to present as well as their developments throughout history, Akkemik said the research has shed more light on the period in which Turkey's climate started to become more continental.

He noted the region belongs to the Jurassic period when almost all of Turkey's surface area was submerged.

*Writing by Dilan Pamuk in Ankara