BY TARYN FITSIK
SCHOHARIE, N.Y.--The oldest tree fossils ever discovered are right in a Schoharie County town's backyard.
Contractors working near the Gilboa Dam in the town of Gilboa uncovered tree stumps, but not just any kind, the oldest ones ever discovered.
News 10's Taryn Fitsik went to the town and found the news is not just captivating scientists.
For scientists, finding the tree stumps near the Gilboa Dam is the equivalent of finding a dinosaur skeleton and for people in the town, it's something to talk about.
"It is a remarkable find and I guess it's the oldest history right here," says Kenneth Clark, the owner of Clark's Tavern.
While Clark is not a scientist, he still fully appreciates what is being dubbed around the world as an incredible find.
According to the New York State Museum, these 380 million year old tree fossils were found in a quarry right near the Gilboa Dam, located in a small town in Schoharie County, that is now very rich in history.
"This is a big deal, it's a major find," says Clark.
A major find, which scientists say is a big part of the puzzle of the planet's earliest days.
The stumps grew right around the time when plant life began to grow on earth.
"It was a very long time ago," says Dr. William Stein. "We're dealing with plants that are not at all like modern ones."
"To me it represents something that is so old, actually you can't even identify with it," adds Clark.
For Clark, the tree stump finding has a rather unique meaning, along an entire wall of his restaurant are pictures of the Gilboa Dam and its history, history he hopes generations younger than him will still appreciate.
"It's just like anything else today, it's a fast paced world," he says. "Some do and some don't, hopefully more do."
The tree stumps will be on display permanently at the New York State Museum, not just for scientists, but for anyone to see.
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