UPPER PALAEOLITHIC BACKGROUND As the climate improved people returned to Britain. These people were The first modern humans arrived in part of a culture found in Belgium, the Europe during the Upper Palaeolithic. Netherlands and Germany. At this time Nottinghamshire was the Technologies were changing and they most north-westerly habitable point for were the first to use bow and arrows. humans in Europe. Most animal species returned with The period is divided into Late and the exception of lions, hyenas, bison Early phases, separated by a cold, and woolly rhinos. glacial period lasting10,000 years. THE POSTER The treeless open tundra landscape of Flint Knapping at Farndon, the region was covered in summer by Nottinghamshire low growing plants which attracted herds of animals. There is evidence that reindeer may have made the Landscape journey specifically to have their young in the seclusion of Cresswell Crags. The site is above the confluence of the Rivers Trent and Devon, surrounded in 40,000-22,000 YA (early phase) the Palaeolithic period by dry and The River Trent was part of the open savannah grassland. It is spring migration route for herds of animals: and herds of migrating animals are Wild horse, bison, reindeer, elk, woolly crossing the rivers on their way to mammoth, aurochs, giant deer, red Cresswell Crags. deer, wolves, brown bears, wolverine, arctic foxes, mountain hares, woolly What is happening? rhinos, hyenas bears and lion. A large hunting party has gathered on Groups of people followed the a promontory above the river. At a migrating herds from their permanent distance below them they can see homes in the lowlands now under the herds of mammoth and reindeer North Sea. They lived in caves and making their way westwards. As the temporary shelters. group plan the next day’s hunting, two During the glacial period people people, a man and child are sitting and animals retreated to central side by side flint knapping. The child is Europe. learning how to make a flint spear 13,000 - 10,000 YA (late phase) head and they are both surrounded At the end of the period by small pieces of flint debris. temperatures rose, melting the ice cap and raising sea levels.
UPPER PALAEOLITHIC BACKGROUND The first modern humans arrived in Europe during the Upper Palaeolithic. At this time Nottinghamshire was the most north-westerly habitable point for humans in Europe. The period is divided into Late and Early phases, separated by a cold, glacial period lasting10,000 years. The treeless open tundra landscape of the region was covered in summer by low growing plants which attracted herds of animals. There is evidence that reindeer may have made the journey specifically to have their young in the seclusion of Cresswell Crags. 40,000-22,000 YA (early phase) The River Trent was part of the migration route for herds of animals: Wild horse, bison, reindeer, elk, woolly mammoth, aurochs, giant deer, red deer, wolves, brown bears, wolverine, arctic foxes, mountain hares, woolly rhinos, hyenas bears and lion. Groups of people followed the migrating herds from their permanent homes in the lowlands now under the North Sea. They lived in caves and temporary shelters. During the glacial period people and animals retreated to central Europe. 13,000 - 10,000 YA (late phase) At the end of the period temperatures rose, melting the ice cap and raising sea levels. As the climate improved people returned to Britain. These people were part of a culture found in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. Technologies were changing and they were the first to use bow and arrows. Most animal species returned with the exception of lions, hyenas, bison and woolly rhinos. THE POSTER Flint Knapping at Farndon, Nottinghamshire Landscape The site is above the confluence of the Rivers Trent and Devon, surrounded in the Palaeolithic period by dry and open savannah grassland. It is spring and herds of migrating animals are crossing the rivers on their way to Cresswell Crags. What is happening? A large hunting party has gathered on a promontory above the river. At a distance below them they can see herds of mammoth and reindeer making their way westwards. As the group plan the next day’s hunting, two people, a man and child are sitting side by side flint knapping. The child is learning how to make a flint spear head and they are both surrounded by small pieces of flint debris.