DNA tests show Beachy Head woman is from southern England – Facial Laboratory at Liverpool John Moores University
The “first black Briton” honored by the BBC was actually white, a new genetic study has revealed.
In 2016 the series Blacks and the British: a forgotten historysuggested that the skeleton of a Roman woman found at Beachy Head was from sub-Saharan Africa.
A plaque was erected to commemorate her origins, but was later removed when research showed that the woman was most likely from Cyprus and had a Mediterranean complexion.
The original plaque was removed in 2022.
Now a new DNA analysis of the skeleton, carried out by scientists from Natural History Museum revealed that the woman was from southern England and was white with blond hair and light eyes.
Dr William Marsh, who carried out the genetic research, said: “Using modern DNA techniques, we have been able to discover the origins of this individual. We show that she bears a genetic ancestry that is most similar to other people from the local population of Roman-era Britain.”
The African origin of the skeleton was claimed to have been made in Professor David Musogadocumentary series that tells the story of “the enduring relationship between Britain and people whose origins lie in Africa.”
In the first episode, the Beachy Head woman was introduced as “African of sub-Saharan African descent” and the program included a reconstruction of her facial features with dark skin, hair and eyes.
On the programme, Professor Olusoga noted that “she is a Black British woman” and Joe Seaman, an expert archaeologist, explained that her African ancestry and the age of her remains likely made her “the earliest Black British woman”.
BBC program introduced Beachy Head woman as 'sub-Saharan African' – BBC
However, in 2017, initial genetic research suggested that it came from the Mediterranean, possibly Cyprus, rather than Africa. In light of the research, the plaque was removed in 2022.
The Roman-era skeleton is believed to have been discovered in the 1950s, although no excavation details have been discovered. The remains were rediscovered in a box from the Eastbourne Town Hall collection in 2012, with a label indicating they had been found at Beachy Head.
The woman has now been confirmed to be descended from the local Roman-era British population of southern England. Radiocarbon dating showed that she died between 129 and 311 AD, consistent with the Roman occupation of Britain.
Analysis of her remains revealed that she was approximately 18-25 years old at the time of her death and was just over 4.9 feet tall. The healed wound on her leg indicated a serious, but non-fatal injury suffered at some point in her life.
Scientists have found that the 'beach-headed woman' was not black as originally thought – Facial Laboratory at Liverpool John Moores University
Dietary analysis of the carbon and nitrogen content of her bones also showed that her diet likely included a lot of seafood.
Dr Selina Brace, from London's Natural History Museum, said: “Our scientific knowledge and understanding is constantly evolving and it is our job as scientists to continue to search for answers.
“Thanks to advances in technology over the last decade since the Beachy Head woman first came to light, we are pleased to report this new comprehensive data and share more about this person and her life.”
There is ongoing scientific debate about the skin color of the early Britons, with some researchers suggesting that the builders of Stonehenge were black.
However, some genetic studies have shown that the inhabitants of Britain during the completion of Stonehenge, around 2500 BC. BC, were pale-skinned early farmers whose ancestors spread from Anatolia – modern Turkey.
The Natural History Museum's analysis of the “Cheddar Man” – a skeleton of a man who lived in Somerset 10,000 years ago – found that he had dark skin and blue eyes.
The study was published in the journal Archaeological Science.
