[Si]
A gravel pit in the lower Thames Valley which preserved a series of river terraces containing useful environmental evidence, abundant mollusc and faunal remains, and large assemblages of Lower Palaeolithic stone tools. The lower gravel beds have a Clactonian assemblage dating to perhaps 420 000–360 000 years ago, while the middle gravels yield Acheulian material of perhaps 200 000 years ago. Three fragments of a human skull (probably female) were found in 1935, 1936, and 1955 within the upper part of the middle gravels. First classified as Swanscombe Man it is now believed to be an early form of Homo sapiens with strong Neanderthal characteristics.
[Rep.: C. D. Overy (ed.), 1964, The Swanscombe skull. London: Royal Anthropological Society]
