Piece of fossilised 'Glossopteris' wood, dating from 251-298 million years ago, Prince Charles Mountains, Antarctica

View this record on the National Museum of Australia's website

Type: Fossils
Place: Mawson station, Mac.Roberston Land, Antarctica; Antarctica
Materials: Paint - non specific, Stone
Collection: National Antarctic Heritage collection
Accession number: 2024.0001.0357

Description

A cream, brown and grey piece of fossilised wood, possibly from a tree trunk. The trunk is semi-circular with an indent running down the centre. There are cracks in the stone along the rings of the tree, and traces of blue paint across the top.

This ancient geological specimen is a piece of fossilised Glossopteris tree trunk dating to the time when Antarctica and Australia were part of the supercontinent Gondwana. Found in sedimentary rocks of Permian age (between 251 and 298 million years ago), it is tangible evidence of a time when Antarctica was much warmer and had a diverse flora assemblage. During this time period, the Glossopteris flora spread across the continent of Gondwana. This fossil was found by expeditioner Dr Patrick Quilty in the Prince Charles Mountains.

About the collection

This collection comprises approximately 600 objects acquired by the Australian Antarctic Division and its predecessors between the 1940s and 2010s. It includes scientific and communication equipment, navigation and cartographic equipment, specimens, commemorative objects, building fabric, field support vehicles, clothing and field work supplies relating to Australia’s long and distinguished tradition of research and exploration within the Antarctic region. These objects are the largest and most diverse assemblage of surviving material culture demonstrating Australia’s relationship with the subantarctic islands and Antarctic continent between the nineteenth and twenty-first centuries. The collection offers remarkable natural and historical significance, notably nineteenth century commercial activities and the early twentieth century expeditions of Sir Douglas Mawson and other explorers that expanded scientific knowledge and laid the foundation for Australia’s enduring presence in the region. From the 1940s, the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions undertook major exploratory and scientific work to understand and protect the Antarctic landscape. Australia took a leading role in the International Geophysical Year and the negotiation of a comprehensive environmental protection regime for Antarctica with the establishment of the Antarctic Treaty System from 1959. It records how the Australian Antarctic Division continues to manage Australia’s interests in the Antarctic region, overseeing world-leading research at three permanent continental research stations - Mawson, Casey and Davis - and at subantarctic Macquarie Island.

Read live from the Museum's Collection API (12/11/2026, 5:48:23 am). Record last updated by the Museum 2026-10-14. Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.