Ancestral Thames
The Thames is a big river that runs through a city called London. A long, long time ago, before there were any people around, the Thames wasn't even there! It started forming around 450,000 years ago when glaciers (big, cold things made of ice) started melting and creating a big stream of water.
Over time, many different things started living in and around the river. Plants, fish, and bigger animals like otters and birds. The river also became an important place for people to live and work.
But even before people were around, there were some animals that lived near the Thames that aren't around anymore, like woolly mammoths and sabre-toothed tigers! Scientists can look at their fossil bones and learn more about what they looked like and how they lived.
So the Thames has a really long, long history that goes back a looong time. It's been an important place for animals and people for hundreds of thousands of years.
Over time, many different things started living in and around the river. Plants, fish, and bigger animals like otters and birds. The river also became an important place for people to live and work.
But even before people were around, there were some animals that lived near the Thames that aren't around anymore, like woolly mammoths and sabre-toothed tigers! Scientists can look at their fossil bones and learn more about what they looked like and how they lived.
So the Thames has a really long, long history that goes back a looong time. It's been an important place for animals and people for hundreds of thousands of years.