A Walk into History
Swanscombe Heritage Park, where the famous Swanscombe Skull was discovered, is being revitalised. On a gloriously hot morning in June, representatives from many of the agencies involved gathered to celebrate the opening of the re-routed on-site work, the first stage in improving the condition of the site. These agencies, led by Swanscombe and Greenhithe Town Council, worked together as the Swanscombe Project Group, to renovate and preserve the site as an important heritage location for future generations. This current work has been funded by the environmental charity, Groundwork Kent Thames-side, with advice on the history and importance of the site provided by Kent County Council’s Heritage Conservation Group, English Nature and a team of international specialists.
The site has suffered from neglect in the past, becoming a victim of vandalism and illegal dumping, but it is hoped that the regeneration will make it a real asset to the local community. Designated as a National Nature Reserve (the first geological NNR) and Site of Special Scientific Interest, it also has a very special place within the history of archaeological investigation. One of the world’s most important archaeological sites, it is well known for its Lower Palaeolithic remains found during the quarrying of Barnfield Pit. Most famously amongst these remains are the three pieces of skull, found independently of each other over a period of twenty years, but which fit together to reveal the cranium of an ancient female hominid. At around 400,000 years old, this is western man’s oldest fossil ancestor. Of these, the handaxe, has become immortalised as an enormous, stunning sculpture at the entrance of the Park. Besides the search for fossils, a host of new interpretation boards explaining what the site was like when the finds were made, how the skull is displayed at the Natural History Museum in London, and how it was identified by Prof. Chris Stringer, have been installed. The trail, the first phase of a three phase project to revive and protect the Park, is a key part of the strategy.
ABOVE TOP: Guests at the opening follow the Heritage Trail. ABOVE BOTTOM: Phil Harding opens the head of the trail, at the first post of the first piece of skull. LEFT: Visitors to the Park are greeted by the enormous handaxe sculpture.
Information is also given about the flora and fauna of the Park. The footpath is inset with rounds depicting long-extinct animals – a feature which children will no doubt adore. Some material for the fauna has been re-assessed, and much of the rest will be looked at in more detail. This is an aspect of the work that has been overlooked for too long.
Professor Chris Stringer, of the Natural History Museum, explained the significance of the artefacts for the assembled guests, showing replicas of models of the skull pieces (the original is in the NHM). The opening ceremony saw pupils from the adjacent Craylands Primary School holding either end of a long red ribbon, whilst Phil Harding (of Wessex Archaeology and Time Team), sliced through it with a sharp, wooden-handled trowel to pull out a shelf of Barnfield’s Wessex man, with Swanscombe Primary, produced a Piltdown Man skull model and wooden casts of an earlier jaw.
This is only the start of the process of making this very important site more accessible and giving it the profile it deserves. For further information, please contact Les Drake, Heritage Conservation Group, Kent County Council, on 01622 221305 or Les.Drake@kent.gov.uk.
EDITOR: LYN PALMER
Stonings House, Stone Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2QU
Telephone: 01892 539636 Mobile: 07801 340831
Email: lyn.palmer@virgin.net or newsletter@kentarchaeology.org.uk