Human footprints discovered in England is the oldest seen outside Africa

A team of Scientists in February 2014 discovered human footprints on the Norfolk Coast in the East of England, which are at least 8 lakh years old. This discovery is one of the most ancient footprints found outside Africa and it is the earliest evidence of human life in Northern Europe.

The footprints were uncovered by a team of scientists from the Natural History Museum, the British Museum and the University of London. These imprints are from up to five individuals in ancient estuary mud at Happisburgh on the country’s east coast. This was established by seeing the different lengths of the feet, of which two pointed towards the sea, whereas, the other three pointed towards inland. Till now the radiocarbon has not been performed on the footprints. But it was estimated by the team that to be between 2300 BC and 700 BC.

This discovery of footprints outside Africa is the first proof of the presence of Human in the North Europe. Now, these footprints are being considered as the direct evidence of the earliest humans in northern England. The details of these markings have been published in Plos One, a science journal.

Happisburgh is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk and became a site of national archaeological importance in 2010 when flint tools over 800000 years old were unearthed. Earlier, in May 2013, a series of early human footprints were discovered on the beach at the site, providing direct evidence of early human activity at the site.