New analysis paints a complex and compelling alternate origin story for the Beachy Head Woman. Once celebrated as the oldest known black Briton, this ancient Roman-era skeleton might have a backstory unknown. In 2012, researchers found skeletal remains concealed in a wooden box at Eastbourne Town Hall. That surprising find resulted in some pretty important conclusions. The individuals were thought to have been found on the adjacent Beachy Head headland back in the 1950s.
Beachy Head Woman would have lived just before or during the Roman occupation of Britain. Carbon dating estimates indicate she may have died anywhere from AD 129 to 311. This means she was likely at least 18 and no more than 25 years old at the time of death. She was a little over 4ft 9 inches tall. Early studies of her cranium prompted scientists to suggest that her ancestry could have been sub-Saharan African.
In 2016, a new plaque was unveiled in order to honour Beachy Head Woman as the first black Briton. Yet modern DNA testing has thrown a monkey wrench into this story. Previous research suggested they may have arrived from sub-Saharan Africa by using mathematical techniques to compare skull characteristics. New genetic studies suggest a much more regional lineage.
“A number of features for the skull suggested that it could be from sub-Saharan Africa. Everything was couched in some caution, though,” – Prof Caroline Wilkinson.
Beachy Head Woman’s DNA was significantly degraded, making it difficult to analyze. That meant researchers were able to recover just a fraction of her genome. Yet, with recent technological advances, DNA coverage has improved by more than tenfold. This new, refined analysis suggests that Beachy Head Woman probably most closely descended from the local British population of Roman-era southern England.
The implications of these findings are significant. Lastly, they shoot down the long-held stereotype of the Beachy Head Woman. Instead, they claim that she represents another demographic group found in ancient Britain. As one of the researchers involved in analyzing the bird’s DNA, Dr. Selina Brace shared her story in subtle intricacies.
“She’s had quite a journey,” – Dr Selina Brace.
This compelling evolutionary story emphasizes the role of different physical traits in indicating evolutionary relationships among disparate populations. It tells us that there are huge genetic overlaps across different populations. Prof Wilkinson further elaborated on this point, stating:
“We know that variation in faces overlaps between different populations,” – Prof Caroline Wilkinson.
The fascinating and groundbreaking research further demonstrates the fluidity of identity and lineage in ancient Britain, especially during the period of Roman occupation.
The results contribute to a clearer picture of Beachy Head Woman’s origins. In so doing, they demonstrate the rich multicultural fabric of ancient British society, illustrating its historical importance. Read on to learn how new technologies are uncovering the secrets of history. These findings are pushing us to reimagine our engrained, imperative assumptions about race and ethnicity in deep time.
“It doesn’t alter the story of Britain,” – Brace.