Uskmouth

Mesolithic human footprints were first found here on the foreshore by Derek Upton in 1986. This led to a programme of investigation and recording led by Professor Stephen Aldhouse-Green. It was shown that the footprints were stratified in banded sediments below thin peats that are dated to c. 4600 cal BC. The footprints include children as well as adults. They are associated with very extensive footprints of deer and birds. Derek Upton found an antler mattock near the footprints and radiocarbon dating shows it is of similar date to the footprints. The Uskmouth finds may represent a Mesolithic foraging expedition from a site of similar date at Goldcliff where many other Mesolithic human footprints and settlement areas have been found.