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New scientific research has provided fresh insight into the origins of a skeleton once known as the “first black Briton.” This ancient skeleton, which dates back to Roman times, was initially believed to belong to a woman of sub-Saharan African descent. Because of this, she earned the title of “one of the earliest Africans in Britain.” However, recent DNA analysis has found no genetic evidence pointing to recent African ancestry in her lineage.
According to a study published online on Wednesday, the genetic makeup of this individual shows a close resemblance to people from rural areas of Britain. The research suggests that she likely had blue eyes, light hair, and skin tone somewhere between pale and dark. This contrasts with earlier craniofacial reconstructions that portrayed her with curly black hair, brown eyes, and dark skin, illustrating how scientific interpretations have evolved over time.
The skeleton, affectionately referred to as the “Beachy Head Lady,” was discovered in 2012 in a box stored in the basement of Eastbourne Town Hall in East Sussex. The label on the storage container read “Beachy Head (1959),” referencing a nearby coastal location and giving her the nickname she is now known by. Following her discovery, numerous efforts were made to establish her precise geographic and ancestral origins.
Initial studies dating back to 2013, which analyzed her skull, led to the suggestion that she may have had recent sub-Saharan heritage. This view received wide media attention and entered into a variety of academic and non-fiction discussions. However, alternative hypotheses emerged later, proposing she might have been raised near Eastbourne but was born in Cyprus. These preliminary findings, although never formally published in scientific journals, were often referenced in media reports. The recent study, which draws on improved DNA sequencing techniques, dates her life to somewhere between 129 and 311 AD. The analyses indicate she was around 18 to 25 years old at the time of death and stood approximately 5 feet tall. While researchers cannot ascertain how she died, evidence points to a diet high in fish, consistent with a coastal lifestyle. The research appears in the Journal of Archaeological Science and was conducted by a collaborative team from the Natural History Museum, University College London, Heritage Eastbourne, the University of Reading, and Liverpool John Moores University
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