Researchers in Kent have unearthed some of Britain’s largest prehistoric tools on a hillside above the Medway Valley. Two large flint knives called handaxes among the 800 artifacts found, considered more than 300,000 years old. The handaxes are over 22 cm in length.
Ms. Ingrey of University College London Institute of Archaeology said: “We describe these tools as giants when they are over 22cm long, and we have two in this size range. These handaxes are so big it’s difficult to imagine how they could have been easily held and used.”
Researchers are now studying the artifacts and identifying who made them and their purpose. Researchers believed that handaxes are used to cut meat due to their sharp, pointed tip, which would have worked like a blade.
“Perhaps they fulfilled a less practical or more symbolic function than other tools, a clear demonstration of strength and skill,” Ingrey o said.
The unearth in Kent is not the first time researchers have found handaxes from the ice age. However, it is the first time archeologists have seen huge amounts of artifacts in the same location.
Dr. Matt Pope of UCL Institute of Archaeology also said that it’s a very good opportunity to study Ice Age.
“The excavations at the Maritime Academy have given us an incredibly valuable opportunity to study how an entire Ice Age landscape developed over a quarter of a million years ago,” Pope said.
After a short discovery, the team also found a significant site from the Roman century, at least a quarter of a million years later than the Ice Age activity. Researchers believe people were buried in the area around 250,000 years after the Ice Age handaxes owners lived there.
Scientists are still working on studying the artifacts. Especially what people said was the most valuable artifact, the handaxes. Also, scientists are trying to find the relationship between the Roman century, finding proof for the hypothesis of Ice Age human beings being the ancestors of Roman Century.
Resources:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-66112136
https://www.twinkl.com.tw/newsroom/story/giant-ice-age-artefacts-uncovered
Ms. Ingrey of University College London Institute of Archaeology said: “We describe these tools as giants when they are over 22cm long, and we have two in this size range. These handaxes are so big it’s difficult to imagine how they could have been easily held and used.”
Researchers are now studying the artifacts and identifying who made them and their purpose. Researchers believed that handaxes are used to cut meat due to their sharp, pointed tip, which would have worked like a blade.
“Perhaps they fulfilled a less practical or more symbolic function than other tools, a clear demonstration of strength and skill,” Ingrey o said.
The unearth in Kent is not the first time researchers have found handaxes from the ice age. However, it is the first time archeologists have seen huge amounts of artifacts in the same location.
Dr. Matt Pope of UCL Institute of Archaeology also said that it’s a very good opportunity to study Ice Age.
“The excavations at the Maritime Academy have given us an incredibly valuable opportunity to study how an entire Ice Age landscape developed over a quarter of a million years ago,” Pope said.
After a short discovery, the team also found a significant site from the Roman century, at least a quarter of a million years later than the Ice Age activity. Researchers believe people were buried in the area around 250,000 years after the Ice Age handaxes owners lived there.
Scientists are still working on studying the artifacts. Especially what people said was the most valuable artifact, the handaxes. Also, scientists are trying to find the relationship between the Roman century, finding proof for the hypothesis of Ice Age human beings being the ancestors of Roman Century.
Resources:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-66112136
https://www.twinkl.com.tw/newsroom/story/giant-ice-age-artefacts-uncovered
