Is England....

[razor1uk]

True say that, one time back then, the countries which are now around the channel lower to middle North Sea areas, some of their popullations once lived in what arceaologists think of as 'Doggerland'.

Which is the current center of which is now known as 'Doggerbank' which was before/during the Ice Age, but prior to the glacial melt water lake, that forced its inhabitants towards the countries their descendants are now generally in.
This lake eventually filled it to such a great level during the latter part of the 'Yonger Drias', that a great torrent that pulverised and tore open the 'dam' of soft clayish downs/moors land that joined UK to Normandy.

This is a great gouged out gash that was largely formed in a single mass catasrophie, which became the todays 'English/European Channel'.
But thats getting off topic slightly, although it explains the same love of big 'proper' chips of UK Belgium as opposed to the skinnier fries/frittes.

 

[yulzari]

But proper chips need mayonnaise not ketchup. But we digress further.

 

[mikewint]

The earliest inhabitants of Britain for whom there is compelling evidence are bands of hunters living in Southern and Western England during the Hoxnian interglacial (about 380,000 to 400,000 BC).
(Some very recent excavations of stone tools on the East Anglian coastline suggest human presence as early as 700,000 years ago).
Just after the last Ice Age, Britain was still attached to mainland Europe. Ibero-Celts migrated north and colonized what are now the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. These Ibero-Celts (from modern day Spain and Portugal) were the first to inhabit what is now the British Isles. These earliest known Cerltic inhabitants are now called the "Beaker" people for the pottery they left behind.
When Caesar invaded England he found the country divided between the Picts in the north and the Britons in the south. Soon the Angles and Saxons from Germany began their invasion displacing both the Picts and Britions. King Aurthur was a Briton fighting the Anglo-Saxon invasion. The Picts and Britons eventually were defeated. The Anglo-Saxon King Harold was in his turn defeated by William, a Norman war leader, at the battle of Hastings

 

[The Basket]

The Normans no longer exist but their history does.

In 1066 Normans invade England. In 1944 English invade Normandy. Ain't revenge sweet.

 

[razor1uk]

Those rare 700,000BCE excavations (any links by perchance?) seem remarkably short time wise after Lucy? (the oldest modern human remains (skull) from Africa) - to me, perhaps too short a time to spread from Africa... perhaps she was one of the last and so far the youngest of her 'early humans' to be found.

Not meaning to refute the politics and dogma of academia perce, but I sometimes think 'Out of Africa' is as a narrowminded view that is/has-been used to ensure promote racist and supremasist ideals historical 'events'. But until new/better knowledge frail fossil material is found, learned and academically accepted, it still stands - like the idea of 'Flat Earth' was.

 

[Readie]

'But proper chips need mayonnaise not ketchup'.

Mayonnaise?
Ketchup?

All a bit continental for us old boy..

All proper chips need is salt and vinegar.

Standing on the cliffs of SE England on a clear day when you can see Europe is one of those must do things for all red blooded Englishmen.
The echoes of Merlins can be heard if you listen hard enough.
The Channel gives us sanctuary and protection from the follies of our neighbours.
The Chunnel is unfortunate...I was rather hoping that the French engineers would get theit wires crossed and keep tunneling in a huge semi circle emerging triumphant in Belgium.
We did our best with delays and strikes hahahaha.
Cheers
John