Doggerland, also known as Dogger Island, was a vast landmass that once connected what is now Great Britain to mainland Europe during periods of prehistory and the last ice age. It existed approximately 10,000 years ago when sea levels were much lower due to the presence of extensive ice sheets. As the ice sheets melted and sea levels rose, Doggerland gradually submerged, and the land became inundated by the North Sea.
The fate of the humans who lived on Doggerland was likely one of gradual migration and displacement. As the sea levels rose, the land would have shrunk, making it more difficult for humans and wildlife to inhabit the area. Archaeological evidence suggests that early human groups would have lived and hunted in this region during the Mesolithic period (around 10,000 to 6,000 years ago).
As for why we know relatively little about the people who lived on Doggerland, there are several reasons:
Submergence: As Doggerland is now underwater, any physical evidence of human habitation that might have existed on the land has been submerged for thousands of years. Archaeologists cannot access these submerged areas easily, making excavations and direct investigations challenging.
Limited Archaeological Research: Doggerland's submerged nature presents significant challenges for archaeologists in terms of accessing potential sites, conducting underwater excavations, and preserving artifacts. The cost and technical difficulties associated with underwater archaeology have hindered extensive exploration of the area.
Geological Processes: The geological processes of sediment deposition and erosion in the North Sea over thousands of years have likely obscured or destroyed many potential archaeological remains that might have been present on the ancient land.
Focus on Other Areas: Archaeological research has traditionally focused on sites that are accessible on land and known to be rich in archaeological artifacts. As a result, less attention has been given to submerged landscapes like Doggerland until recent advancements in underwater archaeology.
Despite these challenges, modern technology and research have started to shed some light on Doggerland's past. Advances in sonar and underwater surveying techniques have allowed researchers to identify potential archaeological sites and explore the ancient landscape beneath the North Sea. Studies of sediment cores and other geological data have also provided valuable insights into the environmental changes and human occupation in the region.
In recent years, there has been increasing interest in studying submerged landscapes like Doggerland, and ongoing research is gradually revealing more about the people who lived there and the environmental changes they experienced before the area was submerged. However, due to the nature of underwater archaeology and the limited accessibility, much about Doggerland and its ancient inhabitants remains a subject of ongoing investigation and speculation.