John Frere was born August 10, in Roydon Hall, which is near Diss, Norfolk, England. He died July 12, in East Dereham, Norfolk. He was the discoverer of England's Antiquity of Humans.
He started out as a country squire but in 1771 he became an active member of the Royal Society of Antiquities. Later in 1790 at Hoxne near Diss, he made a discovery for which he became noteworthy. While looking among fossilized bones from extinct animals, he found Stone Age flint tools. He took care to note and describe the strata uncovered, counting on better archaeological methods to come. He did this because at that time the popular belief was that the world was created around 4004 B.C. When he reported his findings he still said that they may have dated to a time prior to that. His report was taken, but little credence was placed on it until about 60 years later when it was truly appreciated.
"Who’s who in the History of Archaeology." Introduction to Archaeology (1996) Former Link, http://www.ukans.edu/~hoopes/history.html (October 2006) 13 Nov. 1999.
"John Frere." Encyclopedia Britannica (1999) http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9035369?&query=john_frere 30 Nov. 1999.
Written by: Barry Dagestad