Research and Archaeology Revisited: A Revised Framework for the East of England (original) (raw)

Over-Arching Research Themes and Strategy Chronologies and processes of change 84 Landscape and environment 84 Wetland 85 Urban 87 Methodologies 88 Dissemination and outreach 89 Bibliography Reconstruction drawing courtesy of the Ancient History of Britain Project / John Sibbick The archaeological survey of mineral extraction sites around the Thames Estuary (Essex County Council and Kent County Council 2004) included extant and former mineral sites in the Thurrock/Dartford area. The outputs of this project included a range of GIS layers, incorporating the results of specialist studies (including geology, Palaeolithic archaeology and industrial archaeology). The survey considers the importance and potential of the resource in and around the extraction sites. Lower and Middle Palaeolithic At the internationally important site of Pakefield Cliff in Gisleham, Suffolk, excavation of interglacial deposits revealed struck flints, plant and animal fossils in the Cromer Forest-bed Formation, which comprise the earliest evidence for human activity in northern Europe (c. 700,000 BP). The Happisburgh project, Norfolk, was set up after flint artefacts (including a handaxe) and butchered bone were discovered in the organic muds that underlie the rapidly eroding coastal cliffs. In 2004 Happisburgh I was excavated, revealing flint tools, bone, wood and other plant materials, which lay at the marshy edges of a large river. The discovery of the extinct water vole (Arvicola cantiana) suggests that this site dates to between 500,000 and 600,000 years ago. Two further sites were discovered, Happisburgh II and III. At the latter a gravel river channel also revealed flint tools, bone and plant materials, this has been dated to at least 700,000 years BP. If it is older than this date, then it would be the earliest human site in northern Europe. The evidence from Happisburgh III has huge implications for our understanding of the earliest colonization of Europe and the types of environment in which early humans could survive.