Incredible archaeological finds in Cumbria have changed parts of Britain’s prehistory timeline, as new DNA tests reveal the “oldest northerner” was a baby girl aged about three who lived around 11,000 years ago. Prehistoric human bones unearthed from the Hiningwood Bone Caves near Great Uswick are among the oldest known Mesolithic burials in northern Britain. Archaeologists from the University of Central Lancashire used radiocarbon dating, ancient DNA testing and archaeological methods to successfully gather information about the child, known as “The Little Girl of Osik”.
Ancient DNA reveals identity of Britain’s ‘oldest northerner’
The remains were originally discovered by local archaeologist Martin Stables while digging in a cave near Great Urswick in Cumbria. In addition, DNA analysis results showed that the child was female and was probably two and a half to three and a half years old at the time of death.As explained from experts Cambridge UniversityThe burials are estimated to date back to the early Mesolithic period, around 11,000 years ago, after the end of the last Ice Age. The findings, published in the Journal of Prehistoric Societies, are described as one of the most significant discoveries in northern British prehistory for many years. Lead researcher Dr. Rick Peterson said:“This is the first time we have been able to date child remains with such specificity and ensure they belong to a female.”The child was given the nickname “Ossick Lass” in the local Cumbrian dialect, which translates to “Osswick Girl”, to help connect the child to the place where she was buried thousands of years ago.
Mesolithic tombs illuminate prehistoric britain
According to archaeologists, the cave was chosen specifically for burial practices at different times in prehistory. In addition to the child’s skeleton, archaeologists also unearthed shell necklaces and deer tooth necklaces that also date from the same period.These findings suggest the existence of appropriate and important burial practices among hunter-gatherers, who may have viewed caves as sacred spaces. Archaeologists report that similar cave burial practices have been found in other parts of Northern Europe.As Dr. Peterson points out,“Most modern hunter-gatherers believe that caves are portals to the spirit world.”What makes this particular find even more important is that prehistoric human remains are very rare compared to other parts of England, particularly southern England or Wales. This is largely because Ice Age glaciers changed the region’s geography.
Why the discovery of the ‘Urswick Girls’ is important
But for archaeologists, the discovery revealed something deeper. This is an insight into how human emotions were formed in the lives of the first inhabitants of the British Isles. The elaborate burial of children suggests that emotional relationships, ritual practices and organized societies existed long before the advent of written sources.Describing his feelings at the discovery, Martin Stables said this was where someone else’s child was buried “over 11,000 years ago”. Additionally, experts have found evidence that the cave was used as a burial site for at least eight people who died at different times in prehistory.Finds like the Maiden of Ossia are becoming increasingly common thanks to advances in ancient DNA science, which allow scientists to learn about how the first inhabitants of the British Isles lived after the end of the last ice age.
