Congratulations to First Impressions: discovering the earliest footprints in Europe, winner of the Rescue Dig of the Year category in the 2015 Current Archaeology Awards.
The award was accepted by Professor Chris Stringer of the Natural History Museum and Dr Simon Lewis of Queen Mary, University of London, on behalf of the Happisburgh Project team for their work at Happisburgh in Norfolk. Their investigations at this remarkable site has revealed tangible traces of some of Britain’s earliest known human inhabitants, including a series of footprints dating back almost 1 million years.
On accepting the award, Chris Stringer said: ‘There are two of us here tonight, but we are accepting this award on behalf of a much bigger team who have been involved in recording the ancient footprints and getting our findings published. We are also grateful to the ancient humans who left the footprints in the first place!‘
Below are all the nominees in this category:
First impressions: discovering the earliest footprints in Europe
(CA 289 — The Happisburgh Project)
Excavation on the north Norfolk coast has uncovered tangible traces of some of Britain’s earliest known human inhabitants.
Neolithic houses: exploring a prehistoric landscape at Kingsmead Quarry
(CA 292 — Wessex Archaeology)
Extensive evidence of prehistoric activity was found, including Neolithic houses, and some of Britain’s earliest gold ornaments.
The many faces of Silbury Hill: unravelling the evolution of Europe’s largest prehistoric mound
(CA 293 — University of Reading)
Emergency conservation work reopened a tunnel that had been sealed for almost 40 years, with dramatic results.
The sacking of Auldhame: investigating a Viking burial in a monastic graveyard
(CA 293 — AOC Archaeology / Historic Scotland / University of St Andrews)
Uncovering a lost Anglo-Saxon monastery and, in its cemetery, an unexpected Viking burial.
Buried Vikings: excavating Cumwhitton’s cemetery
(CA 294 — Oxford Archaeology North)
Excavation of a rare Viking burial ground offered insights into the lives of some of Cumbria’s earliest Scandinavian settlers.
Bodyguards, corpses, and cults: everyday life in the Roman military community at Inveresk
(CA 294 — National Museums Scotland / AOC Archaeology / CFA Archaeology / GUARD Archaeology / Northlight Heritage / University of Glasgow)
This cosmopolitan settlement on the north-west edge of the Roman empire sheds vivid new light on frontier life.