Prehistoric Norfolk facts for kids

The prehistory of Norfolk tells an amazing story of early humans in England. It covers a huge period, from almost a million years ago to about 2,000 years ago. This time is split into three main parts: the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic ages.

Norfolk is super important for understanding early human life in Britain. It has some of the oldest signs of people living here. It also has some of the best-preserved archaeological sites in the country.

The Stone Age: Early Humans in Norfolk

The Stone Age is a long period when early humans used stone tools. It is divided into three main parts: Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic.

Palaeolithic: The Old Stone Age

This period lasted from about 950,000 years ago until around 10,000 years ago. During this time, the coast of Norfolk was much further north than it is today. A lot of the North Sea was a wide, open plain. The climate and landscape changed a lot as ice ages came and went.

Most of what we know about early Palaeolithic people in Norfolk comes from tools found in river gravels. These gravels were laid down by ancient rivers. Many tools were found in the 19th and early 20th centuries. This was when people dug up a lot of gravel for building.

Lower Palaeolithic: First Signs of Life

Around 950,000 BC, early humans called Homo antecessor lived in Norfolk. Their bones and flint tools were found near Happisburgh. These finds were in river deposits. This discovery changed what experts thought about when the first humans arrived in Britain. Before, they thought it was 700,000 years ago.

The tools found at Happisburgh include:

• An oval-shaped handaxe.
• Thin flakes from making tools.
• A scraper for cleaning hides.
• Many other flakes and fragments.
• A retouched flint flake.

The handaxe found at Happisburgh is very special. It is made of black flint. It is thought to be the oldest tool found in Europe. It was probably used like a knife to cut up animal carcasses.

The environment at Happisburgh was a temperate woodland. There were also wet, marshy areas and water plants. This suggests a mix of pine, alder, oak, and elm trees. Water-loving plants like water lilies were also present.

Other places in Norfolk with Lower Palaeolithic finds include:

• Whitlingham: Worked flints, tools, and axes.
• Keswick: An Acheulian type flint hand-axe.
• South Acre: Flint hand-axes and scrapers.
• Runton: Part of a thin handaxe.

There is less evidence of humans from about 180,000 to 70,000 years ago.

Middle Palaeolithic: Neanderthals in Norfolk

This period was roughly from 60,000 to 30,000 years ago. It is very rare to find well-preserved sites from this time in Europe.

• Lynford Quarry, Mundford: Around 60,000 years ago, Neanderthals lived here.

Archaeologists found mammoth bones and stone tools at Lynford Quarry. These finds were sealed in an ancient river channel. This site gives us a clear picture of life during the Middle Palaeolithic.

The tools found here include 44 perfect flint handaxes. There were also remains of at least nine woolly mammoths. The tools were sharp and looked new. They are part of a style called Mousterian of Acheulean Tradition.

Many animal bones were found, including:

• Woolly mammoths.
• Woolly rhinoceros.
• Reindeer.
• Wild horses.
• Bison.
• Wolves, foxes, and brown bears.

Signs of animal waste were also found. This suggests that scavengers like hyenas were present. Some bones showed signs of being broken by humans. This means people were likely getting marrow from them.

Scientists studied insects from the site. They found 150 different species. These insects show that the area had standing water, marsh, and grass. Dung beetles and carcass beetles were also found. This paints a picture of large, rotting animals being eaten by hyenas and Neanderthals. The plants, insects, and snails suggest a cold, sub-Arctic climate. It was similar to modern Scandinavia.

It seems the mammoths were butchered here. It is not clear if Neanderthals hunted them or just scavenged their meat. This site is very important because such well-preserved sites are rare.

Upper Palaeolithic: The Last Ice Age Hunters

The Upper Palaeolithic covers the end of the last ice age. At the start, Britain was connected to Europe. Norfolk was just part of a larger European plain. By the end, Britain had become an island. Sea levels rose quickly as glaciers melted.

Not many large excavations have happened for this period in Norfolk. Most finds are single tools. Norfolk also lacks the cave sites found elsewhere. These caves are important for preserving ancient sites.

• Carrow Road football ground: Tools found here could be 12,000 years old.
• Titchwell: A beach site with many late Upper Palaeolithic flints. This shows an almost untouched ancient land surface.
• Hockwold cum Wilton and Methwold: Evidence of long blade tools.

This period in Norfolk is still not fully understood.

Mesolithic: The Middle Stone Age

The Mesolithic age began about 10,000 years ago. Temperatures rose, and forests grew. By 8,500 years ago, Britain became an island. This was due to rising sea levels from melting glaciers.

The warmer climate changed the environment. Large herds of reindeer and horses became less common. Animals like elk and red deer became more important for food. This meant hunters needed new techniques. Tools changed to include barbs. Tiny microliths were made for spears and harpoons. Woodworking tools like adzes also appeared. Dogs were tamed to help with hunting. The new wetlands were rich in fish and game.

While other parts of Britain show people settling down, there is no direct evidence of this in Norfolk yet.

Mesolithic Sites in Norfolk

• Titchwell: A rich site from the late glacial and early Mesolithic period. It was next to a small stream. The sea level was 60 meters lower then.
• Leman and Ower Banks: About 40 km off Norfolk's coast. A barbed antler point was found here. It dates to about 9800 BC. This suggests many more early Mesolithic sites are under the North Sea.

Other inland sites include:

• Kelling Heath: One of the richest sites for scattered flint tools. Many cores, blades, and flakes were found. The high view from here might have attracted hunters. They could see the wide plains that are now the North Sea.
• Great Melton: This area has several Mesolithic sites. One site near Pockthorpe has over 32,000 flint tools. This was likely an open camp and tool-making site.
• Spong Hill: Signs of forest clearing by burning were found here.

The Breckland area was popular with hunter-gatherers. This was likely because it was near wetlands. These areas were rich in wild birds and eels. The lighter soils in Breckland meant less dense forests. This made hunting easier.

• Redcastle Furze near Thetford: A Mesolithic flintworking site.
• Two Mile Bottom near Thetford: Another Mesolithic flintworking site.

Small flint tools called microliths are often found in the Brecks. They are found along the Little Ouse Valley and near small lakes.

• Banham: This site has produced more flint axes than any other in East Anglia.

Neolithic: The New Stone Age

The Neolithic period in Britain was from about 4000 to 2500 BC. This time has left more archaeological evidence. This is because Neolithic people changed the landscape more. By this time, Norfolk was cut off from mainland Europe.

Norfolk has given us important information about this period. Neolithic communities preferred Norfolk's lighter soils. They also liked well-drained river valleys. The central claylands were probably used for hunting. Forests were mostly oak and pine trees. The fertile areas of north and east Norfolk were especially good for farming.

Neolithic Settlements and Sites

• Broome Heath: This site was part of a larger monument complex. It included ancient burial mounds called long barrows and round barrows.
• Kilverstone, Thetford: Over 200 early Neolithic pits were found here. These were likely temporary living sites.

Causewayed Enclosures: Ancient Meeting Places

Causewayed enclosures are circular sites with ditches and gaps. They are usually defined by single ditches. Norfolk has three possible examples:

• Buxton with Lammas
• Roughton
• Salthouse in north-east Norfolk. This site is about 60 meters wide. It has at least seven ditch sections.

We are not sure exactly how these enclosures were used. They might have been meeting places for small groups of people. Here, they could trade goods, hold feasts, and perform ceremonies.

The Norfolk enclosures are smaller and more circular than others in England. This might mean they were a unique local tradition. Their location in north-east Norfolk might also be important. Their smaller size could reflect the smaller groups who built and used them. No excavations have happened at these sites yet. So, many questions remain unanswered.