Many thousands of years ago a thick layer of ice covered Lancashire. The ice extended as far South as the Midlands and reached a depth of up to 3 Kilometers. (Internet Geography) This latest phase of Ice advance was known as the Late Devensian. Notably, the peak of the ice age was around 23,000 years ago. Gradually the ice melted creating large run off channels that can still be seen in the forest of Bowland and elsewhere. Notably, there have been fifteen warming and cooling cycles over the last 2.5 million years.
The Forest Of Bowland and Pendle Hill
Ice tends to flow from highland areas to the lower coastal elevations along the river valleys, such as the Ribble and Calder.
Additionally the level of the RIbble was much higher, during the meltdown, and various strand lines can still be seen, close to Citheroe. The glacier itself can cause strand lines, as well as water flow and ice damed lakes.
Repeated glaciations by ice flowing south westerly along the lines of the Calder and Ribble widened and deepened the valleys: even the relatively small Sabden valley exhibits the perfect ‘U’ shape typical of a glaciated valley. The steep northern slope of Pendle Hill and the Big End reflect the interaction between glacial erosion by these ice streams and the resistant nature of the rocks which they encountered. (Forest of Bowland AONB PDF guide)
Post Ice Age climate in Lancashire
The last ice age ended around 10,000 years ago. Gradually the climate warmed, with barren tundra being transformed into deciduous woodland. Additionally, the post ice age era is known as the Mesolthic. This era spans the period from the end of the last ice age, 12,000 years ago, to the first farmers, around 4000 BC
The first hunter-gatherers in Lancashire.
There is evidence that hunter-gatherers were hunting elk around preston as early as 11,500 BC. Elk bones were discovered along with flint tipped weapons. Carbon 14 dating indicated that the elk had been Killed around 11,500BC. There were also 17 bone injuries consistent wth flint tipped weapons.
The hunter gathering era in lancashire lasted from around 11,500BC to 4000 BC. Hunter gatherers led a nomadic life for over 6000 years before the first settlements were established. Hunters moved to different areas, living in groups and using temporary shelter. During and shortly after the ice age Britain was joined to mainland Europe. This offered a route for hunters to follow game into Britain.
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