Is this the birthplace of British civilisation?

One million-year-old remains of the first settlers found buried under a 15-a-night caravan park in Norfolk
Discoveries on the site of Manor caravan park in Happisburgh, Norfolk Scientists believe early humans created their first settlement in the area Dating of 1,000,000-year-old artefacts makes them the oldest found in UK Species who lived there were primitive predecessors of modern humans They could have been the Homo antecessor or Homo erectus species Discoveries to be revealed in a new Natural History Museum exhibition
By Mark Duell PUBLISHED: 12:18, 12 January 2014 | UPDATED: 13:42, 12 January 2014

In the area nowadays you can find a 15-a-night caravan site with coin-operated hot showers. But while the Manor Caravan Park in Happisburgh, Norfolk, might not sound luxurious today - it's certainly a major improvement on what it would have been like there 1million years ago. Scientists now believe early humans created their first settlement at the coastal site - which lies northeast of Norwich - after finding a series of stone tools and fossilised animal remains there.

On the coast: Scientists now believe early hum ans created their first settlem ent at the Manor Caravan Park (seen from above) in Happisburgh, Norfolk - after finding tools and fossils there

Early days: An artist's im pression of Happisburgh, Norfolk, w hen scientists believe it w as occupied by an ancient race of hum ans - w ho could have been the Hom o antecessor or Hom o erectus species

The artefacts have been dated to nearly 1million years ago, which makes them the oldest found in Britain - and suggests the species who lived there were primitive predecessors of modern humans. They could have been the Homo antecessor or Homo erectus species, who both had comparatively small brains and might have even been cannibals as well as hunters, reported The Sunday Times. The dramatic discoveries are set to be revealed next month in the Britain: One Million Years of the Human Story exhibition at the Natural History Museum in South Kensington, Central London. Scientists believe the site the early humans lived on was on the River Thames, which flowed out into the North Sea at that time - and are finding the north Norfolk coast to be a goldmine of artefacts.

Map: The caravan park in Happisburgh is located on the north Norfolk coast, northeast of Norw ich

Also on show : Hoxnian antlers, bones and a hand axe from Sw anscom be, w here Britain's earliest know n Neanderthal w as found, w ill form part of the exhibition at the Natural History Museum from next m onth

Experts are making many new discoveries with the coastline being one of the UKs fastest-eroding - but they are yet to find any human remains from our predecessors, reported The Sunday Times. Professor Chris Stringer from the museum said: From the earliest human fossils in Britain to one of the oldest wooden tools in the world, you will be surprised by the history hidden beneath your feet. The story behind the humans who inhabited ancient Britain has taken us more than a decade to piece together. This gives us an exciting glimpse into our past (and) leads us to reflect on our future. Temperatures when the first humans arrived in Britain would have been several degrees colder than nowadays - and they would have also faced dangerous wildlife including sabre-toothed cats. However, they would have been attracted by the chance of hunting mammoths and bison - as well as being able to walk to mainland Europe, with Kent connected to Germany by land at that time.

HOMO ANTECESSOR: 6FT CANNIBALS WHO LIVED BY THE RIVER THAMES

We still know relatively few facts about the homo antecessor, but it is believed they were the first Britons because they were the only known to live in Europe at the time. Fossil remains found in Spain suggest they had stronger brows and bigger teeth than modern humans but also smaller brains and potentially even cannibalistic behaviour. They would have lived on the flood plains and marshes that bordered the ancient route of the River Thames in Norfolk, alongside sabre-toothed cats, hyenas, horses, mammoths and deer. They measured around 5ft 6in to 6ft, weighed between 9st and 14st and are believed to have been right-handed. However, no complete skeletons have ever been found. Britain: One Million Years of the Human Story will run at the Natural History Museum from February 13 to September 28, with tickets costing 9 for adults and 4.50 for concessions

Comments (1)
Share what you think Newest Oldest Best rated Worst rated View all Lynzie, Bristol, 1 hour ago Why are they always naked. It would a bit cold

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