Doggerland: Lost at Sea

The history of Doggerland provides a fascinating glimpse into a lost prehistoric world that once bridged the UK and Europe.

Doggerland: Prehistoric Land Bridge Between UK and Europe

Discovered through the artifacts brought up by advanced fishing technologies, Doggerland was a submerged landmass in the North Sea that connected the UK and Europe. In the late 19th century, deeper fishing led to the discovery of peat, also known as "Morlog," containing mammal bones—not fish bones—indicating that the seabed might have been above water in the past.

Clement and Eleanor Reed pieced together evidence of submerged tree stumps and bones to propose that a land bridge existed, which later became known as Doggerland.

Discovered Via Bones, Peat, and Seabed Remnants Suggesting a Former Land Bridge

The idea gained further support when, in 1931, a trawler called the Kolenda found a chunk of peat off the coast of Norfolk that contained an eight and a half-inch harpoon head crafted from an antler, dated around 14,000 years old, affirming the time of human habitation in the Mesolithic era. Additionally, a Neanderthal skull fragment between 70,000 and 40,000 years old suggested prehistoric human presence.

Clark and Bryant viewed Doggerland not just as a land bridge but as an extensive part of the European continent, teeming with life and activity. Artifacts like a mastodon skull supported the notion that Doggerland was above sea level before it succumbed to the waters.

Researchers Proposed Doggerland Was Flooded by Rising Sea Levels

The Reeds' 1913 publication "Submerged Forests" was the first study to delve into the underwater woods known as Noah's Woods. Their findings alo ...

Researchers like Vincent Gaffney and Simon Fitch have furthered exploration into the submerged landscape of Doggerland, coined and initially mapped by Bryony Coles in 1998.

Bryony Coles Coined "Doggerland," Created Speculative Prehistoric Maps In 1998

In 1998, archaeologist Bryony Coles published "Doggerland: A Speculative Survey," coining the term "Doggerland" after the Dogger Bank. This contagious idea suggested that Doggerland was more than just a land bridge—it was an integral part of the European continent. Coles’ work suggested that this now-submerged area was once populated with human activity, inspiring further interest in its archaeological significance.

Clark notes that Coles’ study was groundbreaking. With little information available, Coles was able to create convincing and detailed maps of Doggerland during different times it was above water, igniting curiosity and research into the area’s past.

Seafloor Data Aids Doggerland Landscape Models

Through the aid of underwater mapping, researchers can create more accurate landscape models of Doggerland.

Underwater Mapping Revealed Artifacts and Settlements in Doggerland

Underwater mapping has revealed that the North Sea's submerged Doggerland holds significant archaeological resources like artifacts and settlements. Gaffney and graduate student Simon Fitch leveraged data obtained from oil exploration companies, notably from Petroleum Geo Services. This data, covering 23,000 square kilometers, brought to light the presence of artifacts and settlements in Doggerland, painting a picture of a lost prehistoric land.

Clark and Bryant discuss how underwater mapping has provide ...

Doggerland, the now-submerged landmass that once connected Great Britain to continental Europe, underwent various transformations during its existence, affecting both its landscape and the species that inhabited it, including human populations.

During the Younger Dryas, Doggerland Was a Tundra With Grasses, Shrubs, Few Trees

In the Younger Dryas period, Doggerland's environment consisted primarily of a tundra landscape. Researchers determined that it was dominated by hardy vegetation like ferns, shrubs, and grasses possibly due to the samples of willow leaves, hazel, and birch found in peat deposits.

As the Climate Warmed, Doggerland Became a Landscape of Birch, Pine, and Hazel Trees

As global temperatures began to rise, the once cold and harsh tundra of Doggerland gradually transformed. Birch and pine trees started populating the area during the ensuing pre-Boreal period and the larger Holocene epoch. Later on, in the Boreal period, an even warmer climate allowed hazel to replace birch, signifying the shift to a forested environment.

Animal Life Shift in Doggerland: From Ice Age Species to Temperate Fauna

With climatic shifts altering Doggerland's landscape, the animal life correspondingly evolved from Ice Age species to a more temperate array of fauna. Woolly rhinoceros, mammoths, and reindeer that thrived during the Younger Dryas had to migrate northward or became extinct as the Ice Age concluded around 11,600 years ago. Their departure made room for new inhabitants, such as wild boar, birds, otters, and beavers.

Humans in Doggerland Adapted From Hunter-Gatherers To Early Farmers

Doggerland's initial human inhabitants, Homo Antecessor, appeared nearly 800,000 years ago, followed by Neanderthals who thrived in the cold tundra, focusing on a diet rich i ...

Doggerland, the fabled ancient land bridge once linking Britain to Europe, has long intrigued researchers with its mysterious submergence. New theories and estimates provide insight into the natural events that might have led to this area's disappearance beneath the waves.

Ice Age Sea Level Rise Submerged Doggerland Over Millennia

Doggerland Underwater 5,000 to 7,000 Years Ago

Bryant, citing Coles, suggests that Doggerland likely disappeared around 5500 BC. The scientific consensus seems to be that Doggerland went underwater between 5000 and 7000 years ago. This timeline aligns with estimates that indicate Doggerland was fully submerged around 5,000 to 7,000 years ago, with sea levels rising gradually over hundreds of thousands of years during the aftermath of the Ice Age. The higher lands of Doggerland were slowly consumed by rising sea levels, with Dogger's Bank being one of the last areas to submerge.

Tsunamis May Have Rapidly Inundated Doggerland, Say Researchers

Isostatic Rebound and Sea Level Rise Submerged Doggerland

Theories propose that approximately 8,000 years ago, massive tsunamis generated by submarine landslides, known as the Storegga Slides, inundated the coasts surrounding the North Sea and affected the areas making up Doggerland. Moreover, during the cold period known as the Younger Dryas, isostatic adjustment—stemming from the significant weight of glaciers and ice sheets—forced parts of the Earth's crust downward and ...