Globe Pit facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Essex |
|---|---|
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 0.4 hectares |
| Notification | 1986 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Globe Pit is a special place in Little Thurrock, Essex, England. It's a small area, only about 0.4 hectares (which is like half a football field). This site is very important for understanding Earth's history and how humans lived long ago.
It's officially known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's protected because it has rare wildlife, plants, or, in this case, important rocks and landforms. Globe Pit is special because of its geology, which is the study of Earth's physical structure and substances.
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Why Globe Pit is Special
Globe Pit is a Geological Conservation Review site. This means experts have looked at it and decided it's one of the best places in the UK to study geology. It helps us learn about how the Earth has changed over millions of years.
Ancient History and Tools
Scientists from Natural England say Globe Pit is key to connecting archaeology with geology. Archaeology is the study of human history through digging up old things. Geology helps us understand the ground where these old things are found.
At Globe Pit, they found many ancient flint tools. These tools were made by early humans during a time called the Lower Paleolithic period. This period was a very long time ago, when humans were just starting to make tools.
The Thames River's Past
The site helps scientists understand the Pleistocene period. This was an ice age that happened between 2.6 million and 11,700 years ago. During this time, huge glaciers covered parts of the Earth. Globe Pit shows how the River Thames changed its path and shaped the land during the Pleistocene.
Clactonian Tools and Their Age
The flint tools found at Globe Pit are called Clactonian tools. These are a specific type of stone tool made by early humans. Experts Paul Pettit and Mark White have studied these tools. They believe the tools are about 350,000 years old.
This age is linked to something called MIS 10 to 9. These "marine isotope stages" are like time markers. They help scientists figure out past climates and how old different layers of rock and artifacts are.
Ongoing Research
How scientists understand Globe Pit is still being discussed. This means it's a very important place for future research. New discoveries here could change what we know about early humans and Earth's history.
Visiting Globe Pit
Globe Pit is on private land. This means it is not open to the public. People cannot visit it without special permission.
