https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.211904

On the earliest Acheulean in Britain: first dates and in-situ artefacts
from the MIS 15 site of Fordwich (Kent, UK)

Abstract
Northern Europe experienced cycles of hominin habitation and
absence during the Middle Pleistocene. Fluvial gravel terrace sites
in the east of Britain and north of France provide a majority of the
data contributing to this understanding, mostly through the presence
or absence of stone-tool artefacts. To date, however, relatively few
sites have been radiometrically dated, and many have not been
excavated in modern times, leading to an over-reliance on selectively
sampled and poorly dated lithic assemblages. This includes Fordwich
(Kent, UK), where over 330 bifaces were discovered through industrial
quarrying in the 1920s. Here, we present the first excavation and
dating of artefacts discovered in situ at Fordwich, alongside their
technological analysis and relationship to those previously recovered.
The site is demonstrated to retain deposits of Lower Palaeolithic
artefacts, with 251 flakes, scrapers and cores identified to date.
Infrared-radiofluorescence (IR-RF) dating of feldspar reveals 112
artefacts to have come from levels dating to at least 570 ± 36 to
513 ± 30 thousand years ago (ka) and are most plausibly assigned to
an MIS 14 deposition, with artefacts produced during MIS 15 (approx.
560–620 ka). Indeed, these IR-RF samples provide minimum ages for
artefacts. Combined with evidence from exposures linked to the
original quarrying activities, a similar MIS 15 age is suggested for the
more than 330 handaxe artefacts discovered in the 1920s. The
remaining excavated artefacts come from levels dated to between
347 ± 22 and 385 ± 21 ka (MIS 10 or 11), with this later age
interpreted to reflect post-MIS 14 deposition by substrate gullying
and solifluction. These data demonstrate Fordwich to be one of the
earliest Palaeolithic sites in northwestern Europe, and to retain the
only large Acheulean handaxe assemblage directly dated to
pre-MIS 13. Thus, Fordwich is determined to be a crucial piece of
the pre-Anglian Palaeolithic puzzle in northern Europe.

On Monday, July 18, 2022 at 4:46:01 PM UTC-4, Primum Sapienti wrote:
> https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.211904
>
> On the earliest Acheulean in Britain: first dates and in-situ artefacts
> from the MIS 15 site of Fordwich (Kent, UK)
>
> Abstract
> Northern Europe experienced cycles of hominin habitation and
> absence during the Middle Pleistocene. Fluvial gravel terrace sites
> in the east of Britain and north of France provide a majority of the
> data contributing to this understanding, mostly through the presence
> or absence of stone-tool artefacts. To date, however, relatively few
> sites have been radiometrically dated, and many have not been
> excavated in modern times, leading to an over-reliance on selectively
> sampled and poorly dated lithic assemblages. This includes Fordwich
> (Kent, UK), where over 330 bifaces were discovered through industrial
> quarrying in the 1920s. Here, we present the first excavation and
> dating of artefacts discovered in situ at Fordwich, alongside their
> technological analysis and relationship to those previously recovered.
> The site is demonstrated to retain deposits of Lower Palaeolithic
> artefacts, with 251 flakes, scrapers and cores identified to date.
> Infrared-radiofluorescence (IR-RF) dating of feldspar reveals 112
> artefacts to have come from levels dating to at least 570 ± 36 to
> 513 ± 30 thousand years ago (ka) and are most plausibly assigned to
> an MIS 14 deposition, with artefacts produced during MIS 15 (approx.
> 560–620 ka). Indeed, these IR-RF samples provide minimum ages for
> artefacts. Combined with evidence from exposures linked to the
> original quarrying activities, a similar MIS 15 age is suggested for the
> more than 330 handaxe artefacts discovered in the 1920s. The
> remaining excavated artefacts come from levels dated to between
> 347 ± 22 and 385 ± 21 ka (MIS 10 or 11), with this later age
> interpreted to reflect post-MIS 14 deposition by substrate gullying
> and solifluction. These data demonstrate Fordwich to be one of the
> earliest Palaeolithic sites in northwestern Europe, and to retain the
> only large Acheulean handaxe assemblage directly dated to
> pre-MIS 13. Thus, Fordwich is determined to be a crucial piece of
> the pre-Anglian Palaeolithic puzzle in northern Europe.

That's a bit older than the 400ka Claxton spear.

Thanks, Primum Sapienti, finally something sensible from you!
You should do more so!

Mid-Pleist.Homo (cf.erectus) probably already followed the rivers (seasonally?).

On the earliest Acheulean in Britain:
first dates and in-situ artefacts from the MIS 15 site of Fordwich (Kent, UK)
Alastair Key cs 2022
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.211904

N-Europe experienced mid-Pleistocene cycles of hominin habitation & absence..
Fluvial gravel terrace sites in E.Britain & N.France provide most data contributing to this understanding (mostly presence or absence of stone-tool artefacts).
Rel.few sites have been radiometrically dated,
many have not been excavated in modern times, leading to an over-reliance on selectively sampled & poorly dated lithic assemblages,
e.g. in Fordwich, Kent, UK, >330 bifaces were discovered through industrial quarrying in the 1920s.

Here, we present
- the first excavation & dating of artefacts, discovered in situ at Fordwich,
- their technological analysis & relationship to those previously recovered..
The site retains deposits of Lower-Palaeolithic artefacts: 251 flakes, scrapers & cores identified to date.
IR-radio-fluorescence dating of feldspar reveals 112 artefacts from levels dating to at least 570-513 ka ± 30:
plausibly an MIS-14 deposition + artefacts produced during MIS-15 (c 560–620 ka): these IR-RF samples provide min.ages for artefacts.

Combined with evidence from exposures linked to the original quarrying activities, a similar MIS-15 age is suggested for the >330 handaxe artefacts discovered in the 1920s.
The remaining excavated artefacts come from levels 347-385 ka ± 21 ka (MIS-10 or -11, the later age interpreted to reflect post-MIS 14 deposition by substrate gullying & solifluction):
Fordwich (one of the earliest Palaeolithic sites in NW-Europe) retains the only large Acheulean handaxe assemblage directly dated to pre-MIS 13:
a crucial piece of the pre-Anglian Palaeolithic puzzle in N-Europe.