11,000-year-old female child burial discovered in Cumbria cave. Oldest human remains in northern Britain identified as young female child aged 2.5-3.5 years Discovered in Renning's Wood Bone Cave in Cumbria, excavated by local archaeologist Martin Stables First time specific age and sex determined for such old child remains via DNA analysis
In a cave in Cumbria, archaeologists found the oldest human remains in northern Britain — a young female child just 2.5-3.5 years old, named the 'Ossick Lass.' DNA analysis identified her sex for the first time at this age. She was buried approximately 11,000 years ago 🦴
Key Facts
- Oldest human remains in northern Britain identified as young female child aged 2.5-3.5 years
- Discovered in Renning's Wood Bone Cave in Cumbria, excavated by local archaeologist Martin Stables
- First time specific age and sex determined for such old child remains via DNA analysis
- Third oldest Mesolithic burial in northwest Europe
- Jewelry found at site includes perforated deer tooth and beads carbon-dated to 11,000 years old
- Remains named 'the lass' in local vernacular by archaeologist Martin Stables
- International team led by University of Lancaster extracted DNA and conducted analysis
- Published in proceedings of the Prehistoric Society
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