Storm uncovers mysterious sunken forest buried under peat and sand for 4500 years

The forest has become associated with the myth of a sunken civilisation known as the Sunken Hundred.

The forest has become associated with the myth of a sunken civilisation, known as Cantrer Gwaelod, or the Sunken Hundred, and devotees believe the area was a once-fertile land and township stretching for 30 kilometres. Picture: Matthew Horwood/Getty Images

A mysterious prehistoric forest has risen again on a Welsh beach thanks to Storm Hannah.

The collection of ancient tree stumps had been buried under water and sand more than 4500 years ago, and now people are connecting it to an ancient legend about a sunken civilisation.

The forest is being associated with a 17th Century myth called “Cantre’r Gwaelod” or the “Sunken Hundred”.

It is thought the trees belonged to the ancient forest of Borth, which once stretched for three to four kilometres along the shore between Ynys-las and Borth in Wales.

A petrified ancient tree in Borth, Wales. Picture: Matthew Horwood/Getty Images

A prehistoric forest, which was buried under water and sand more than 4500 years ago, has been uncovered on the beach between Ynys-las and Borth in mid-Wales. Picture: Matthew Horwood/Getty Images

This area is believed to have been a town surrounded by fertile land for farming and protected by floodgates.

An ancient legend dictates the land was drowned when a priestess called Mererid neglected her duties at the fairy well she was in charge of and allowed it to overflow.

This petrified forest has been partially uncovered before but never to this extent.

The area is often referred to as the Atlantis of Wales, and various archaeological discoveries have been made here, including fossilised human and animal footprints.

The remains of the forest's trees, preserved in the local peat, have been exposed by low tides and high winds from the recent Storm Hannah. Picture: Matthew Horwood/Getty Images

Some locals say they can still hear the bells of the drowned church of Cantre’r Gwaelod on a quiet day.

High speed winds from Storm Hannah managed to unearth the prehistoric tree roots that had been preserved under a deep layer of peat and sand.

This is the first time some of these trees have been seen for thousands of years.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission