A preserved prehistoric ecosystem buried beneath over a mile of East Antarctic ice is rewriting climate history — and revealing Earth’s next tipping point.
In a shocking breakthrough, researchers have uncovered a massive ancient landscape — complete with rivers, ridges, and forests — frozen in place beneath Antarctica’s Wilkes Land. Sealed off for over 34 million years, the untouched terrain is being hailed as a geological time capsule that may hold critical clues to Earth’s climate past — and future.
“It’s like uncovering a lost continent,” said Professor Stewart Jamieson, lead researcher at Durham University.
Using satellite imaging and ice-penetrating radar, scientists mapped over 12,000 square miles of fossilized river valleys, elevated ridges, and glacial-carved formations buried deep under the East Antarctic Ice Sheet — an area larger than Maryland.
Palm Trees in Antarctica? Yes, Really.
The region wasn’t always frozen. Before Antarctica drifted to the South Pole, it hosted lush forests and temperate climates, likely with flowering plants and palm trees. Past sediment samples have even revealed ancient pollen grains from palms along the coast.
Researchers say the now-buried world was once carved by active rivers and tectonic rifts, shaped like the glacial valleys in Wales or Scotland. But what’s most surprising is how intact the landscape remains.
“The terrain hasn’t been eroded. The ice here is so cold and static that it’s preserved like a museum exhibit,” said co-author Neil Ross of Newcastle University.
Why This Discovery Is Alarming for 2025 Climate Models
Scientists believe the East Antarctic Ice Sheet — once considered stable — is not as immovable as previously assumed. Rising carbon dioxide levels, approaching those of prehistoric ice-free periods, could reignite glacial retreat, threatening long-frozen ground with exposure.
Key findings:
-
Ice coverage began about 14 million years ago, following tectonic shifts and CO₂ decline
-
The landscape lies beneath a “cold-based” glacier, meaning it’s frozen solid to the bedrock
-
Computer simulations show some buried areas have risen up to 1,600 feet, compressed by ancient ice
-
If melting continues, this hidden landscape may reemerge for the first time in millions of years
“Understanding how this land formed — and stayed preserved — helps us predict what happens next if the ice retreats again,” said Jamieson.
