Britain’s Oldest Human Remains Identified as Young Girl

Scientists have identified the oldest known human remains in northern Britain as those of a young girl who died approximately 11,000 years ago. The discovery provides a rare glimpse into early human burial practices during the Mesolithic period in a region where such finds are uncommon due to the destructive effects of past glaciations.

The remains were discovered in 2023 during an archaeological excavation of the Heaning Wood Bone Cave, a small underground chamber located in northwest England near the village of Great Urswick in Cumbria.

Analysis and Identification of the Remains

The identification process involved the analysis of scattered teeth and cranial fragments. Initial studies suggested the remains might have belonged to a man, but subsequent analysis by the University of Lancashire determined the bones belonged to a female child.

Dr. Rick Peterson of the University of Lancashire was able to narrow the child’s age to between 2.5 and 3.5 years. This level of specificity is rare for remains of such antiquity.

To achieve these results, the research team employed genomic analysis to read inherited DNA. Despite the fact that cave sediment typically degrades fragile human DNA over 11,000 years, enough signal survived to identify the sex of the child.

The team also used radiocarbon dating to establish the timeline of the burial, placing it between 9290 and 8925 BC.

Evidence of Deliberate Burial

Archaeologists have found evidence suggesting the child was buried deliberately. Five perforated shell beads were discovered alongside the Mesolithic material, and one specific bead was found in the same window as the remains.

Dr. Peterson argued that the matching dates for the beads and the bones make the conclusion of a deliberate burial more likely. Local archaeologist Martin Stables, who began excavations at Heaning Wood Bone Cave in July 2016, described the find as a caring burial of someone’s child.

In addition to the shell beads, Stables discovered other artifacts during his work at the site, including a pendant made from a deer tooth.

Regional Significance and Context

The discovery is particularly significant because human remains from this era are rare in northern Britain. While earlier remains have been found in Wales and southern England, the northern region’s geological history of glaciation has often destroyed such evidence.

Before the identification of this child, the earliest known remains in the region were from a 10,000-year-old burial at Kent’s Bank Cavern, which was discovered in 2013.

To create a connection between the remains and her resting place, archaeologists have given the girl the name Ossick Lass, which means Urswick girl in the local dialect.

While the identification of the child’s age and sex has been achieved, researchers note that a larger question remains unresolved regarding why the child was placed in the cave.

We have been able to be so specific about the age of a child whose remains are so old

Dr. Rick Peterson