Startling evidence of a Stone Age structure in the Solent

“We were in shock,” the Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology (HWTMA) director told the Daily Echo. “This is more comprehensive than anything I thought we would ever find and I’m sure there is an awful lot more to be uncovered.”

Thanks to the protection of the sea, and the absence of oxygen-related erosion, Bouldnor Cliff has been preserved as a remarkable time capsule.

Hundreds of ancient artefacts, including flint, charcoal, string, hazelnuts and the remains of a log boat, have been retrieved from the site since excavations began in 1998.

However, Mr Momber said the latest discovery, made two months ago, would help rewrite the history books, as it was further proof the inhabitants had settled permanently on the banks of the Solent.

“Each piece of timber has very clear and distinct cut marks, so we know they have been worked on,” he said.

“It’s an elaborate framework and the timber appears to be linked. It could be a collapsed structure, or perhaps a platform built close to the waterway.”

He added: “This really pushes forward our understanding of the area because it shows they were well established and capable of craftsmanship.”