La Cotte de St Brelade

La Cotte de St Brelade, located in Jersey, is a significant Paleolithic archaeological site that reveals a long history of Neanderthal habitation, spanning from approximately 250,000 to 48,000 years ago. The site, a modified cave or rock shelter, is notable for the earliest evidence of hominin occupation on the Channel Islands and features a substantial collection of Middle to Upper Paleolithic artifacts. Key findings include evidence of fire use through thermoluminescence dating of burnt flint, advancements in stone tool production using Levallois techniques, and large accumulations of mammoth and woolly rhinoceros bones, indicating sophisticated butchering practices. These findings provide insight into the cultural evolution and subsistence strategies of Neanderthals in northwestern Europe.