Every cell in your body holds the story of your ancestry, dating back thousands of years. By looking at microscopic chromosomes called mitochondrial DNA, anthropologists can flip through the pages of time and see when and where human populations began and migrated. This fascinating science supports the theory that long before maps, ancient human beings moved out of Africa, where the first humans seem to have evolved, and settled in every region on Earth.
Click on the image below to get a detailed map and explanation about human migration.
The slideshow below explores human migration into just one small part of the world, the area that is now known as England. Maps are the best way to show how the wandering hunter-gatherers who once thrived on the rich coasts of Great Britain encountered a major change in the landscape. As a result of this change, early Britons were cut off from the rest of the European continent and were able to establish a new and distinct population.
The End of an Ice Age
About 12,000 years ago, the last Ice Age was coming to an end. As the glaciers receded, a new, fertile land appeared in the North.
Land Bridge
Today, England is an island, separated from Europe by the English Channel. Thousands of years ago, however, this channel didn't exist, and early tribes of nomads could walk from Europe to England over land.
Settling Down
Food was abundant in these new lands to the north, so groups of people would visit the same areas again and again over the years. Eventually, farmers from the Middle East settled down in what is now modern-day England, and began to grow crops, raise livestock, and build communities.
Becoming England
About 9,000 years ago, the land bridge between England and Europe was flooded, cutting off the early settlers of England from the mainland. The farming communities that had taken root on the island grew and flourished, becoming the foundation for the civilizations of today.
Question
What did early travelers settle in England?
