Table of Contents
Introduction
Kayleigh, the speaker, introduces Doggerland, a now-submerged landmass that once existed between the modern coasts of the Netherlands and England. The video explores the animal and human species that lived there, their ways of life, and how Doggerland disappeared. The documentary is in collaboration with Miniminuteman, who provides insights later in the video.
Pleistocene Period and Flora
Kayleigh explains that during the Pleistocene, 98% of today’s plant species, including various insects and butterflies, already existed. She connects this to her personal experience growing up in North Holland, where similar plants and insects were part of the landscape.
Atlantic Dune Forest and Modern-Day Landscape
Doggerland’s landscape stretched from the Netherlands’ west coast to England’s east coast. Kayleigh discusses the Atlantic Dune Forest that once existed in both areas. In the Netherlands, at a place called Schorl, pine, oak, birch, and rowan trees naturally thrived for thousands of years. She compares this with Norfolk, England, highlighting the forest remnants that once spanned across Doggerland before it was submerged.
Animals of Doggerland
Several species once inhabited Doggerland:
- Mammoths: Kayleigh traces the evolution of mammoths from the southern mammoth (Mammuthus meridionalis) to the steppe mammoth and woolly mammoth. The southern mammoth roamed the landscape until their extinction around 9,650 years ago, with woolly mammoths surviving on isolated islands for thousands of years longer.
- Woolly Rhinoceros: These species coexisted with the mammoths and lived until around 10,000 years ago.
- Cave Bears and Cave Lions: Cave bears lived across Europe, excluding glacier-covered regions like Scandinavia. Eurasian cave lions, apex predators of the time, were depicted in ancient human artwork.
- Saber-Toothed Cats: These predators, including the Smilodon, hunted large prey such as young mammoths.
- Bison and Aurochs: Both species inhabited Doggerland, with steppe bison being prominent in Ice Age art. The aurochs also roamed the area, interbreeding with steppe bison.
Early Human Inhabitants of Doggerland
The first human species to inhabit Europe and Doggerland were Homo antecessor, emerging around 1.2 million years ago. Fossilized human footprints in Norfolk, dating back at least 800,000 years, provide evidence of early human presence. These footprints likely belonged to Homo antecessor or Homo heidelbergensis. Kayleigh also discusses evidence of cannibalism among Homo antecessor.
Homo heidelbergensis
Homo heidelbergensis emerged around 800,000 years ago and lived in Europe for hundreds of thousands of years. This species is believed to be the common ancestor of Neanderthals and modern humans. Archaeological evidence, including tools and remains, has been found across Europe, including in England and the Netherlands.
Neanderthals
Neanderthals emerged around 430,000 years ago and coexisted with Homo heidelbergensis. By 400,000 years ago, Neanderthals were the dominant species in Europe. Fossils and tools discovered in places like Swanscombe, England, and the Maas River valley in the Netherlands provide evidence of their presence. Neanderthals were sophisticated, using tools and creating ornaments, and there is evidence they interacted and interbred with Homo sapiens.
Homo sapiens Arrival
Modern humans, Homo sapiens, first appeared in Europe around 54,000 years ago. DNA evidence shows that they interbred with Neanderthals. Around 41,000 years ago, Homo sapiens arrived in the British Isles. However, they did not stay long due to the cold climate of the time.
Doggerland and the Ice Age
During the Last Glacial Maximum around 33,000 years ago, an ice sheet covered the North Sea, making Doggerland uninhabitable for humans. After the ice receded, humans began to repopulate the area during the Bølling-Allerød warming period around 12,000 years ago. Archaeological evidence suggests that Magdalenian cultures, known for their cave art, lived in Doggerland during this time.
Mesolithic Era
The Mesolithic inhabitants of Doggerland, particularly the Federmesser culture, were highly skilled hunters and toolmakers. They created intricate bone carvings, and evidence of their encampments has been found in the Netherlands, including a well-preserved site in Hardinxveld.
The Disappearance of Doggerland
Doggerland began to disappear due to rising sea levels around 8,200 years ago. Kayleigh explains that while the sea level rise was gradual, the catastrophic Storegga tsunami, triggered by a submarine landslide off the coast of Norway, dealt a significant blow to Doggerland’s remaining inhabitants. The tsunami likely devastated the Dogger Bank, a major landmass at the time, and contributed to the population decline in the region.
Conclusion
Doggerland may have disappeared beneath the waves, but its legacy continues through ongoing research. Fossils and artifacts regularly discovered in the North Sea and along European coastlines help scientists learn more about this lost land and its inhabitants.
