UK's Oldest Northerner: A 3-Year-Old Girl Unearthed

A significant archaeological discovery in Cumbria, England, has identified Britain's oldest known 'Northerner' as a three-year-old girl. The remains, found at Heaning Wood Bone Cave in Great Urswick, were initially thought to belong to a male but extensive DNA analysis by University of Lancashire experts proved otherwise.

The child, affectionately named the 'Ossick Lass' by researchers, lived approximately 11,000 years ago. This makes her discovery the earliest human remains found in Northern England, predating previous finds significantly. Experts believe she was one of the first humans to repopulate Britain following the conclusion of the last Ice Age.

Local archaeologist Martin Stables, who began excavating the site in 2016, discovered the child's remains. Alongside human and animal bones, the site has yielded stone tools, pottery, and jewellery. Perforated deer teeth and beads found at the cave also date to 11,000 years ago, suggesting a deliberate burial and possibly spiritual significance for cave sites among early hunter-gatherer groups.

This finding is particularly noteworthy as glaciation effects have made preserving older human remains in northern Britain challenging. Earlier significant human remains have been found in southern England and Wales, but the 'Ossick Lass' represents a new benchmark for the ancient north. This discovery offers crucial insights into the lives of early Mesolithic hunter-gatherers.