This digital image was generated from a 3D scan of Beachy Head Woman’s skull. The skin, hair and eye pigmentation were informed by ancient DNA results. Courtesy of the Face Lab at Liverpool John Moores University.
The identity of a mysterious Roman-era skeleton found in southern England may have finally been resolved.
While previous research suggested the Beachy Head Woman may have had recent sub-Saharan Africa or Mediterranean ancestry, a new study reveals she was probably from Britain.
New DNA sequencing hopes to settle a decade-long mystery surrounding the Beachy Head Woman.
The Roman-era skeleton of a young woman was brought to light in 2012 when it was uncovered in a box in the basement of Eastbourne Town Hall as part of the Eastbourne Ancestors Project. A label on the box suggested that she had been found at the nearby headland of Beachy Head in the 1950s, but further details were scarce.
The Beachy Head Woman subsequently garnered public interest when research suggested that she may have had recent sub-Saharan ancestry. This would mean the skeleton provided an early example of an African presence in Britain.
Later research suggested that she may have come from the Mediterranean, or possibly Cyprus. However, this unpublished finding was based upon poorly preserved DNA, leaving many questions about the Beachy Head Woman unanswered.
Scientists have now re-examined the skeleton and its DNA with new techniques. Dr William Marsh, one of our scientists who analysed the DNA, says that it’s now more likely that the Beachy Head Woman’s origins lie much closer to home.
“By using state-of-the-art DNA techniques and newly published genomes, we were able to determine the ancestry of the Beachy Head Woman with much greater precision than before,” William reveals. “We show she carries genetic ancestry that is most similar to other individuals from the local population of Roman-era Britain.”
Dr Selina Brace, our ancient DNA expert and senior author of the research, explains that the skeleton’s changing story represents the natural process of science.
“Our scientific knowledge and understanding is constantly evolving, and as scientists, it’s our job to keep pushing for answers. Thanks to the advancement of technology that has occurred in the past decade since Beachy Head Woman first came to light, we are excited to report these new comprehensive data and share more about this individual and her life.”
The findings of the study were published in the Journal of Archaeological Science.
Many famous Roman sites have been found on England’s south coast, such as the mosaics as Bignor Roman Villa. Public domain image by Poliphilo via Wikimedia Commons.
The first significant contact between Britain and Ancient Rome was in 55BCE, when Julius Caesar led a military expedition to what is now Kent. Roman Britain, however, wouldn’t come into being until almost a century later when Emperor Claudius launched a full invasion.
At its height, Roman Britain stretched from southern England to the Antonine Wall just north of what is now Glasgow. It contained a network of forts, roads and cities that were connected to the rest of the Roman Empire, bringing people from across Europe, north Africa and beyond.
Inscriptions and other sources show that during this period people were moving between Britain and north Africa, and that this continued after the fall of the Roman Empire. Recent ancient DNA analysis, for example, shows that people with mixed European and sub-Saharan ancestry were living in seventh-century Dorset and Kent.
During the Roman occupation of Britain, signs of the empire were common around Beachy Head. This includes a villa at Eastbourne, a fort at Pevensey and rural settlements at Bullock Down and Birling. A variety of burials have also been found in the area, including a child and several adults.
While it’s not sure exactly where the Beachy Head Woman was buried, carbon dating of her skeleton suggests that she died at some point between 129 and 311 AD – coinciding with the Roman occupation of Britain.
Further examination of the skeleton has offered a few other clues about the Beachy Head Woman’s life. She was around 18-25 when she died and probably stood at just over 1.5 metres tall. There’s also a healed wound on her leg, suggesting a serious but non-fatal injury at some point well before her death.
The skeleton also contains some clues about what the Beachy Head Woman might have been eating. Levels of carbon and nitrogen in her bones, for instance, suggest that her diet probably contained a lot of seafood.
The skeleton has been a mystery ever since it was rediscovered, with a label suggesting it was found near Beachy Head in southern England. © chrisdorney/ Shutterstock
The first research into her genetic data took place in 2017, when scientists first attempted to extract DNA from her bones. Their analysis of her DNA hinted that the Beachy Head Woman may have come from the Mediterranean.
However, the scientists were only able to extract a small amount of low-quality DNA. This wasn’t enough for them to be sure about the results, and so the results were not published in a scientific journal.
By 2024, however, new ancient DNA methods could now retrieve more data so the team returned to Beachy Head Woman. This time, they were able to sequence a lot more high-quality DNA.
The additional data allowed them to analyse Beachy Head Woman’s ancestry in much greater detail. They discovered that her DNA was most similar to the rural population of Roman-era Britain, with no indication of recent African or Mediterranean ancestry. They concluded that it was therefore most likely that Beachy Head Woman originated from southern England.
With the additional DNA data they were also able to analyse Beachy Head Woman’s DNA using modern forensic tools. This forensic analysis predicted that she would likely have had light skin pigmentation, blue eyes and fair hair. These details have been used to update the digital facial reconstruction of Beachy Head Woman.
Further technological advances will continue to improve our understanding of the past as we reconstruct the lives of people living thousands of years ago.
Museum science is helping to answer where, when and how humans evolved.
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