There was a lost continent and yet not many people know about it. No, it's not the legendary Atlantis or Mu, but one that was proven to exist, but no more....
Doggerland was a continent in the southern most part of the North Sea between the UK and Denmark, Belgium and Netherlands. It was around 6500 BC when the ice sheets of the ice age were melting that this peninsula was cut off from the mainland and became an island until about 5000 BC when it finally submerged.
bone points artifacts
"Seahenge"
It appears that Doggerland was an important bridge between the UK and Europe. Dates on how long man lived in Doggerland are vague. They go anywhere from 10,000 BC until flooding began in 7500 BC when it became marshland and island before it sank completely.
It is believed that Doggerland was likely a very important hunting and fishing area for Europe. This brings to mind the early people who trekked out of Africa and into Australia and the South Pacific islands, leaving their traces in skull shape and DNA to show they had ties to Denisovans and Neanderthals both. How did they make the trek? What was the land like during the ice age? What pieces of lands that united are now gone to flooding and tsunamis? In fact, recently five of the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific have gone underwater, lost to the rising ocean.
We know so little of how the Earth was and even where it is headed....
More info:
National Geographic
BBC article
ArticleSeahenge
I've said for a long time some of the most interesting archeology may be underwater in areas that were once above water during the ice age.
ReplyDeleteNot sure I'd call this one a "continent" though. Looks like more of an extension of Europe.