The Lost Worlds of the Palaeolithic

Join Palaeolithic archaeologist Pete Knowles, a doctoral researcher at Durham University, for a captivating journey into Kent’s deep and distant past.

Drawing on six years of doctoral research, Pete will share new insights from thousands of prehistoric stone tools recovered from the ancient gravels of the East Kent River Stour. Spanning almost a million years of human history, these remarkable artefacts offer a unique glimpse into the lives of the different human species that occupied Britain long before written records began.

Combining museum collections, historical archives, fieldwork, modern excavation techniques and cutting-edge 3D digital analysis, the research explores how variations in stone handaxes may reflect different cultural traditions among early human groups. Pete will also discuss the first archaeological excavation of a significant site near Reculver, where some of Britain’s earliest recognised prehistoric stone tools were discovered.

Discover how these groundbreaking findings are helping archaeologists better understand who lived in Britain during the Palaeolithic period, when they were here, and how their technology and ways of life evolved over hundreds of thousands of years.

Original Palaeolithic artefacts from East Kent and beyond will be on display before and after the talk, offering a rare opportunity to see these extraordinary objects up close. Whether you are an archaeology enthusiast or simply curious about our earliest ancestors, this promises to be a fascinating and accessible evening.

Sunday 26 July, 2pm
Tickets: £14 – includes admission to the museum, house and gardens.