Eartham Pit, Paleolithic archaeological site in West Sussex, England
Eartham Pit is an archaeological excavation site in West Sussex where researchers have uncovered flint tools, animal bones, and human remains. The materials lie in sediment layers that are several hundred thousand years old.
The site provided evidence of early human settlement in Britain after a leg bone discovered in 1994 was identified as Homo heidelbergensis. This finding pushed back the timeline for human presence on the island by many thousands of years.
The tools and bones found here show how early people used their surroundings and processed their hunted animals. Archaeologists can see cut marks on the bones that reveal how these people prepared their food.
Access to this protected site is not open to the public and requires prior permission from the authorities. Visits are usually arranged only for research groups, school classes, and academic institutions.
Ancient land surfaces are preserved at this location, where scientists can still see the remains of animals that died hundreds of thousands of years ago. The way the bones are arranged and marked gives insights into the hunting practices of these early people.
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