Neanderthal mystery in Pulborough
- From: Jack Linthicum <jacklinthicum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2008 03:37:47 -0700 (PDT)
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Neanderthal mystery in Pulborough
An archaeological excavation at a site near Pulborough has thrown
remarkable new light on the life of northern Europe's last
Neanderthals.
It provides a snapshot of a thriving, developing population rather
than communities on the verge of extinction.
Tools discovered at the site are technologically advanced and
potentially older than tools in Britain belonging to our own species,
homo sapiens, according to the team leader Dr Matthew Pope of
Archaeology South East based at the UCL Institute of Archaeology.
"It is exciting to think there is a real possibility these were left
by some of the last Neanderthal hunting groups to occupy northern
Europe.
The impression they give is of a population in complete command of
both landscape and natural raw materials with a flourishing technology
- not a people on the edge of extinction."
The team, funded by English Heritage, is undertaking the first modern,
scientific investigation of the site since its original discovery in
1900. During the construction of a monumental house known as Beedings,
some 2,300 perfectly preserved stone tools were removed from fissures
encountered in the foundation trenches.
Only recently were the tools recognised for their importance. Research
by Roger Jacobi of the Leverhulme-funded Ancient Human Occupation of
Britain (AHOB) Project showed conclusively that the Beedings material
has strong affinities with other tools from northern Europe dating
back to between 35,000 and 42,000 years ago.
The collection of tools from Beedings is more diverse and extensive
than any other found in the region and offers the best insight into
the technologically advanced cultures which occupied Northern Europe
before the accepted appearance of our own species.
Dr Pope said: "Dr Jacobi's work showed the clear importance of the
site. The exceptional collection of tools appears to represent the
sophisticated hunting kit of Neanderthal populations which were only a
few millennia from complete disappearance in the region.
"Unlike earlier, more typical Neanderthal tools these were made with
long, straight blades - blades which were then turned into a variety
of bone and hide processing implements, as well as lethal spear
points.
"There were some questions about the validity of the earlier find but
our excavations have proved beyond doubt that the material discovered
here was genuine and originated from fissures within the local
sandstone.
"We also discovered older, more typical Neanderthal tools, deeper in
the fissure. Clearly, Neanderthal hunters were drawn to the hill over
a long period of time, presumably for excellent views of the game-
herds grazing on the plains below the ridge."
The excavations suggest the site may not be unique. Similar sites with
comparable fissure systems are thought to exist across south east
England. The project now aims to prospect more widely across the
region for similar sites.
Barney Sloane, head of historic environment commissions at English
Heritage, said: "Sites such as this are extremely rare and a
relatively little-considered archaeological resource.
"Their remains sit at a key watershed in the evolutionary history of
northern Europe. The tools at Beedings could equally be the signature
of pioneer populations of modern humans, or traces of the last
Neanderthal hunting groups to occupy the region.
"This study offers a rare chance to answer some crucial questions
about just how technologically advanced Neanderthals were, and how
they compare with our own species."
The project, which has been running with the assistance of the
landowners since February 2008, has been directed by Dr Pope and
Caroline Wells of Sussex Archaeological Society, working closely with
specialists from the Boxgrove Project and the Worthing Archaeological
Society.
http://www.archaeologynews.org/story.asp?ID=300009&Title=Neanderthal%20mystery%20in%20Pulborough
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