Archive · 5 Sep 2025
Ancient Humans Survived Britain's Harsh Ice Age
Imagine a time, almost a million years ago, when Britain was covered in ice!
Scientists have found proof that humans, called Homo heidelbergensis, lived there.
These early humans were ancestors to Neanderthals.
They found tools buried in the ground, showing how these people survived during the Anglian glaciation, which was a very cold time.
The tools were hidden deep within the gravels, possibly to protect them.
This discovery is the oldest evidence of humans in northern Europe, teaching us about how they dealt with extreme cold.
Archaeologists discovered the earliest evidence of humans living through the Ice Ages.
The findings date back to approximately 700,000 years ago.
The discovery occurred at Old Park, along the River Stour in Canterbury, Kent.
The human species was identified as Homo heidelbergensis, believed to be the ancestor of Neanderthals.
Thousands of stone tools were found buried in sands and gravels.
- Who
- Homo heidelbergensis
- What
- Evidence of human life during the Ice Age
- When
- 700,000 years ago
- Where
- Old Park, Canterbury, Kent, Britain
- Why
- To understand early human survival during extreme climate conditions.
- Species
- Homo heidelbergensis
- Location
- Old Park, Canterbury, Kent
- Time Period
- 712,000 to 621,000 years ago
- Discovery
- Oldest human records in northern Europe
- Artifacts Found
- Stone tools
- Ice Age
- Anglian glaciation