[SunkenCiv]

closely related:

Sahara Desert Was Once Lush and Populated
LiveScience | 20 July 2006 | Bjorn Carey
Posted on 07/20/2006 6:55:53 PM EDT by Marius3188
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1669466/posts

[JerseyHighlander]

Here's another related post;

there are still small groves of pre-desertification lower Egypt palm trees

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1644323/posts