An incredible discovery has been made up in the Rocky Mountains – giving scientists a rare look deep into the past. A routine archaeology survey at Wyoming’s Beartooth Plateau led to the discovery of a prehistoric time capsule: a group of more than 30 whitebark pine trees that date back almost 6,000 years. These ancient trees are in pristine condition, and were found lying flat about 3,100 meters above sea level. This is a pretty big deal since these trees were found around 180 meters further above sea level than today’s Rocky Mountain tree line. Carbon dating has confirmed the trees were alive between 5,440 and 5,950 years ago, giving unprecedented insight into the region’s historic ecosystem.
Professor Cathy Whitlock led the research team from Montana State University, and described the find as “a window into past conditions at high elevations”. The level of preservation found in these trees is remarkable, and suggests they were essentially entombed after death, and very quickly at that. Careful analysis shows no evidence of a burial via avalanche but there are markings indicating there was expanding ice around them. The fact that these trees have been found in such a condition after so long shows how capable of preservation in high altitudes the Rocky Mountains can be. The discovery is particularly valuable as it indicates that whitebark pine trees grew at higher elevations and were thriving back when there was a warmer climate.
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Climate Clues Frozen in Time
This discovery tells a story of our planet’s changing climate. The rings of these ancient trees revealed steadily decreasing temperatures in the Rocky Mountains. The team was able to explore the ice core data from Antarctica and Greenland, and it suggested that falling temperatures were probably due to the centuries-long volcanic eruptions in the North. The eruptions kicked up enough sediment to eventually reduce sunlight, lowering global temperatures until the Rocky Mountains simply became too cold for these trees to survive in these higher elevations.
According to team member Joe McConnell, climate models showed that additional and consistent volcanic eruptions in Iceland roughly 5,100 years ago were further responsible for temperature drops. This cooling further expanded ice patches through the Rocky Mountains and “ensured the fallen trees were entombed in ice and protected from the elements for the next 5,000 years,” McConnell explained. This discovery builds on previous discoveries made in The Rockies’ ice patches, including remains of wooden arrows and darts, with one arrow shaft dating to over 10,000 years ago, meaning humans have been hunting in these mountains for thousands of years.
Modern Implications of an Ancient Discovery
While the findings are exciting, the discovery comes with implications about our planet. This ancient, Rocky Mountain forest was found because temperatures are rising – the ice they were hidden in had been frozen for thousands of years beforehand. “This discovery was possible because of anthropogenic climate change—rising temperatures are now exposing areas that have been buried by ice for millennia,” Professor Whitlock noted. She went a step further by cautioning that the current tree line in the Rocky Mountains will “likely shift upslope” as temperatures continue to increase. Rising temperatures, amongst many other detrimental factors, will alter the entire mountain biome in profound ways.
On the surface, you’d think having more trees exposed would be beneficial – since they can absorb harmful gases, right? The problem is that when ancient ice (like what’s in the Rocky Mountains) melts, it can dramatically impact ecosystems in ways that scientists can’t yet predict. There could be countless ancient dangers frozen in that ice. The United Nations Environment Programme has been outspoken about how permafrost melting could expose previously-dormant pathogens. Conservation experts believe that the best way to protect the ecological balance of all places – including The Rockies – requires a collective reduction in carbon emissions.
And this isn’t a big ask for most of us. Sustainable practices like composting or supporting solar initiatives can reduce pollution, therefore mitigating temperature increases. The urgency behind these efforts becomes more clear as discoveries like these ancient Rocky Mountain pines come to light. Yes, we’ve learned valuable information about our past, but we also have (more) evidence that our climate is changing quickly. With ice formations that have lasted for millennia (but are now disappearing), climate change becomes harder to ignore.
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