Have We Uncovered Some Authentic British Stone Age Artwork?

For over 200 years, archeologists have searched these lands for signs that early human species may once have lived here.

But the first humans to emerge from Africa were tropical.

They just weren't adapted to cold climates, and they could not have survived in Northern Europe.

[wind blowing] Now, on this beach in Norfolk, archeologists are finding remarkable evidence that may challenge this belief.

I've been following this project for years, and the archeologists are about three weeks into this year's dig.

So I'm really excited about coming here to find out how they've been getting on.

The team are part of an internationally renowned project searching for clues that will help them date this site.

So Nick, you're a few weeks in.

Nick Ashton of the British Museum is leading the excavation.

And what sort of evidence are you finding in these, in these ancient river sediments?

Well, we're getting pollen from these fine grain sediments.

We're getting wood.

We're getting other plant remains, little seeds.

[swallows] Uh, also getting beetles, and they're very good for reconstructing climate, and on top of that, we're getting animal re- remains, animal bones, um, and teeth, and they really help with the dating of the site.

To retrieve that evidence, every bucket load excavated must be painstakingly examined.

So it's all happening down here.

Ah.

What have you got for us, Sophie? [laughs]

[laughs]

Nothing at the moment.

Not much.

[laughs]

You want to just look there.

Oh, wow.

Some-