Stone Age Hackney

Stone Age Hackney: 300,000 BC

An artist's reconstruction of a prehistoric mammoth hunting scene. Six human figures wearing furs and grasses are surrounding a mammoth holding spears.

Rare evidence of mammoth hunting has been found in Stoke Newington. Reconstruction via Wikimedia Commons. This series explores how artefacts, animal and plant remains provide a rare glimpse into Hackney’s distant past, when the area was home to huge beasts and a mysterious now extinct humans, the Neanderthals. In this post, we’re going back in … Read more

Stone Age Hackney: Prehistoric Animals

Painting showing a prehistoric landscape. Several animals are shown, including a bear, hyenas, and in the distance straight-tusked elephants.

This series explores how artefacts, animal and plant remains provide a rare glimpse into Hackney’s distant past. In this post, we are exploring some of the curious creatures discovered to have once roamed Hackney. What animals were in Hackney 300,000 years ago? Ancient bones, teeth and other animal remains have been found across the borough. … Read more

Stone Age Hackney: The Neanderthals

Photograph showing the close up detail of the face of a 3D reconstruction of a Neanderthal.

Reconstruction of an adult male Neanderthal based on remains found at Spy, Belgium. Photo by IR Stone.  This series explores how artefacts, animal and plant remains provide a rare glimpse into Hackney’s distant past. In this post, we introduce you to the area’s first residents – the Neanderthals. Who were the Neanderthals? Old Stone Age … Read more

Stone Age Hackney: Rediscovery

A black and white photograph of a deep excavation. In the trench pose 3 unknown workers, and apart from them Worthington George Smith pointing to a layer of stratigraphy in the soil with his cane.

This series explores how Hackney’s Old Stone Age (Palaeolithic) archaeology was discovered and preserved due to the rapid urban development of the late 1800s and the dedicated work of a handful of collectors. The Opportunity The borough witnessed rapid population increase in the 19th century, rising from just under 15,000 people in 1801 to nearly … Read more

Stone Age Hackney: Worthington George Smith

Trade-card of Worthington George Smith, with central inscription space surrounded by wood-engraving style images of birds, fruits, violin, plants, mask, sculpted head, vase, and lower left a Neanderthal and at right a mammoth.

This series explores how Hackney’s Old Stone Age was discovered because of the rapid urban development in the borough in the late 1800s. The dedicated work of a handful of collectors preserved these for the future. In this post, we explore the work of a local archaeological pioneer, Worthington George Smith. Worthington George Smith (1835-1917) Smith was … Read more

Stone Age Hackney: Joseph Exall Greenhill

A black and white photograph of a man and a woman, presumably members of library staff, arranging a display of archaeological artefacts in glass cases. In the bottom left case stone tool artefacts from the collection of Joseph Exall Greenhill can be seen.

This series explores how Hackney’s Old Stone Age was discovered and preserved due to the rapid urban development of the late 1800s and the dedicated work of a handful of collectors. In this post we explore the life and impact of the forgotten figure behind Hackney Museum’s prehistoric collection, Joseph Exall Greenhill. Joseph Exhall Greenhill … Read more