The big picture of the earliest humans in Britain
I can describe some of the main features regarding the chronology of the earliest humans in Britain.
The big picture of the earliest humans in Britain
I can describe some of the main features regarding the chronology of the earliest humans in Britain.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Natural climate change has meant that different groups of humans have come to and left Britain at different times.
- Stone tools and footprints at Happisburgh show that the first known Britons came to Britain c. 950,000 years ago.
- Around 500,000 years ago teeth and bones found at Boxgrove show Homo heidelbergensis lived in Britain.
- Ice Ages around 450,000 and 20,000 years ago resulted in long periods when no humans lived in Britain.
- Homo sapiens came to Britain c. 40,000 years ago, left during the most recent Ice Age and returned c. 12,000 years ago.
Common misconception
That there has only ever been one type of human.
Explain there was more than one type of early human but they are all extinct now. All modern humans are Homo sapiens.
Keywords
Homo sapiens - the only surviving group of humans is the Homo sapiens
Archaeologist - someone who studies human history by exploring artefacts found in the ground is an archaeologist
Prehistoric - something from before written history is known as prehistoric
Ice Age - an Ice Age is when the Earth becomes very cold for a long period of time
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of upsetting content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
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Starter quiz
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