Description
We apologise for the technical issues that affected our live stream/recording. Unfortunately, the problem was not resolved during the broadcast despite our AV provider’s (Society of Antiquaries) best efforts.
The earliest appearance of Neanderthals in Europe is associated with fundamental changes in how humans behaved and adapted to their environments. A recently discovered archaeological site, excavated ahead of the construction of a school, provides a key opportunity to understand this critical period.
The lecture will detail the results of excavations undertaken by UCL Archaeology South-East at Maritime Academy, Frindsbury between 2021 and 2023. The site is located within a large solution feature in the Chalk which has functioned as a capture point, trapping sediments and protecting a multi-period Palaeolithic locale from erosion for 330,000 years. Within the feature buried soils and sediments contain stone artefacts which have barely moved since discard. A minimally disturbed site of this age is a significant discovery, dating to a period in Britain central to discussions on early Neanderthal behaviour and changing technologies.