It was the gateway to a lost land which once linked Britain to continental Europe.
But rising sea levels thousands of years ago have since wiped away all traces of Doggerland from the Norfolk coast... or, almost all.
Recent low tides on the beach at Holme, in the north west of the county, have exposed extensive peat bogs dating back 4,000 years, remains of ancient forests which once blanketed the area.
Large areas of deposits - which are gradually being eroded away - can be seen at the lowest ebb, as the tides scour away the sands, before the sea returns to cast its cloak around them.
Retired newspaper correspondent turned historian Chris Weston, from Norwich, is a regular visitor to Holme.
"I go up there quite regularly and I've never seen as much of the peat before," said Mr Weston, 77.
"You can see what have become little islands and a considerable bed of black."
Mr Weston, who presented programmes on local history for BBC Radio Norfolk, said the peat beds were the remains of an ancient forest, which thousands of years ago was part of Doggerland.
This was the low-lying region of land connecting East Anglian with mainland Europe, which was home to ancient people after the last Ice Age.
As the climate changed between 15,000 and 6,000BC, their home became flooded by rising sea levels.
Holme once sat on a ridge of land above the sea, before the waters rose.
The remote beach was where the Bronze Age relic Seahenge was discovered in 1998.
READ MORE: Will we ever know why Seahenge was built?
READ MORE: Pictures show Seahenge as you've never seen it before
It was believed to have been built in the spring of 2049BC and has been hailed as one of the most important discoveries of the 20th century, teaching us that early people were more advanced than had previously been believed.
Parts of a second circle discovered in 1999, which dates back to the same time, can still be seen close to where Seahenge was found.
Instead of being excavated, it was left to be claimed by the sea.
Both were built on what was originally the edge of salt marsh some distance from the shore.
As the wetland became freshwater, trees grew and formed a peat bog when they died.
That in turn was covered in a layer of sand as sea levels rose over the centuries, protecting the peat from the waves.
The present-day beach is next to the Norfolk Wildlife Trust's Holme Dunes reserve.
Its warden Gary Hibberd said: “There are acres of ancient forest – perhaps around 4,000 years old – sitting just below the surface at Holme.
"Depending on the tides, visitors to the beach may occasionally see patches of black sand, which is actually peat from the ancient forest floor.
"Due to the big tidal changes we experience at Holme, these areas can be exposed and covered up at different times. It is amazing to think that there is a submerged forest beneath our feet, just another reason why Holme Dunes is such a special place."
Sea claims secrets revealed by shifting sands
Parts of the peat beds at Holme are being taken by the sea with each passing tide.
Some of the structure is riddled with holes left by piddocks - a clam-like burrowing shellfish.
They weaken it and allow chunks to be washed away.
Here and there timbers poke up draped in mussels and weed.
Could they be from ancient times, or more recent driftwood?
Mysteries make the magic of Holme, as curlews cry and a red kite soars over the dunes.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here