The site where the oldest human remains in Europe were discovered has been bought by English Heritage.
The former quarry at Boxgrove near Chichester stunned the world nine years ago when the remains of the so-called Boxgrove Man were found.
Today, it has been safeguarded after a £100,000 grant to English Heritage.
It now plans to work with former site owners Hanson Aggregates, West Sussex County Council and University College London to restore the 20 acre site and hopes that Boxgrove will eventually become a major centre of education, research and archaeological training.
The discovery of the human shin bone, which archaeologists nicknamed Boxgrove Man, in 1993 caused a world-wide stir.
Carbon-dating showed it belonged to a 6ft man who lived thousands of years ago.
Despite a further search of the quarry, a skull was never found. However, scientists were still able to compile a mass of information because the site also contained hundreds of animal bones.
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