I wondered if this may happen. As the drizzle descends on the new world scene that is the reforming mudflats I leave gentle footprints in the softer strata. A heron stands sentinel still on the edge of the lowering tide, occasionally tidying breast plumes caught by a jaunty breeze.
I snatch a few shots of the newly revealed layers of history, keen to document the rapid changes that the Kent is imposing on this fluxing landscape. The lawn-flat grasses are long gone, their bowling green finesse grabbed by the wandering tide and deposited elsewhere on this coastline. But that was decades ago. Now, the channels have changed with a vengeance. Every day they creep ever closer, uncovering the muddy time capsules that hold incredible secrets.
Square miles of mud, more than ten feet deep, have been taken, revealing a rocky island that was the resting place for human remains, probably a cockle-picker. Closer to the shore things even more ancient have been uncovered. Memories of Formby beach surface as I peruse the hardened mud for signs of ancient wanderers.
And there they are. Footprints, barefoot, lines of them. Adults, children and a toddler who left their legacy to be covered and then revealed as the sea chose. These old stratas of mud, too hard to make much of an impression in now, are storybooks of past visitors, folk who walked this edge maybe 7,000 years ago, in who’s footprints I now trace a finger following the impressions of toes, arch and heel.
And then I find them. Under the echo of crow and curlew I kneel before two palm sized holes filled with light silt and seawater. I feel into one, my fingers finding the outline of pads and claws. Wolf too walked here.
Wow, just wow, what a wonderful surreal experience
It really was Rosslynne.
Oh how amazing… I had goosebumps reading this, Jason, and can only try to imagine your awe and excitement. Time must have been standing still as you traced those outlines and put your hands in the shallow hollows… nothing between you and them through all the years, you both so close to each other and held in those moments. How absolutely amazing and so so special.. thank you thank you for sharing <3
Thank you Anny, I shall do my best to find good prints to share here.
Enjoy reading your passages when they appear , very thought provoking . You should have been an English lecturer the way you costruct your words into reality.
I’m so pleased you enjoy my pieces Maurice, and thank you for this kind comment. I was told off at school for always writing about nature so your words are most appreciated here.
I remember the thrill I felt seeing the footprints in the Bristol Channel.
Wow, that’s amazing Jason. I can see the human footprints but can’t make out the wolf ones. I hope you share more photos. I love reading about your adventures, glad you are loving life in your new location. Say hello to Nicola for me 🙂
Oh wow, Jason what a find, it’s been years since I’ve been to Grange and no excuse I’m only about an hour away. Thanks for sharing this x
I am in deep admiration of your capacity to take in what appears to be destruction as simply a part of ever ongoing change.
And to find a connection to all that went before.
How humbling.
We are all linked and separated by time.
Merci for the reminder.
Wow, wonderful find. Have you reported it to the county archaeologist 🤔