The Middle Palæolithic Period

(syn; Paleolithic, Palaeolithic)

Appox. 200,000 BC to 40,000 BC

Third British Ice Age around 150,000 BC the forth or last Ice Age commences around 75,000 BC

The Middle Palaeolithic period in Britain is marked by the Interglacial event between the third and forth ice age.  As there has been almost no archaeological evidence found dating from the Interglacial Period we do not know at the moment if there was any hominid presence in Britain during the bulk of the Middle Palaeolithic. Towards the end of the period a new hominid called Homo sapiens neanderthalis (syn; Neandertal, Neanderthal) appears in Britain.

The Neanderthals, or Homo sapiens neanderthalis, were a completely different species to Homo Erectus being shorter and bulkier in stature. It may have been this that briefly gave them the edge over other hominid during the harsh Ice Age conditions. Apparently originating in central Europe they brought with them a new Mousterian culture that is characterized by flint flake tools. They also developed other tools and bone implements including needles have been found. These needles would indicate that they were manufacturing items from animal skins possibly to use as body coverings and rudimentary clothes and possibly even tent-like shelters.

The Neanderthals were quite widespread remains having been found not only in Europe but also in N Africa, Palestine, and Siberia. There is much hot debate as to the position of the Neanderthals in the ancestry of modern humankind. There is some similarity within the gene pool but not enough to be conclusive evidence in ether direction.