Beachy Head Lady

The Beachy Head Lady or Beachy Head Woman is an ancient skeleton discovered in Beachy Head, East Sussex, England. The Beachy Head Woman lived during the Roman period, around 125 to 245 AD.[1] 'Beachy Head Lady' was assumed to have originated from Sub-Saharan Africa[2] making her the first known person of sub-Saharan origin in Britain.[3] Following DNA analysis however, the woman was found to be Southern European, most likely from Cyprus.[4]

Beachy Head Lady
Discoveredc. 1950s
Beachy Head, East Sussex
Present locationEastbourne Museums
IdentificationMES33810
Period2nd or 3rd century AD (Roman)

Remains and investigation

As part of the Eastbourne Ancestors project, over 300 sets of human remains excavated from Anglo-Saxon cemeteries were re-examined. Heritage Officer Jo Seaman and his team found two boxes labelled "Beachy Head, something to do with 1956 or 1959". Inside they found a very well-preserved human skeleton.[5] The Beachy Head Woman is the most complete skeleton in the collection.[1]

Radiocarbon dating suggested a date range of 125 to 245 AD for the remains. Isotope analysis indicated that the Beachy Head Lady grew up in south-east England, and may have been born in the region.[1]

Beachy Head Woman was aged around 22 to 25 when she died, and would have stood between 4 feet 9 inches by 5 feet 1 inch (1.45 m × 1.55 m) tall.[1]

The Beachy Head Woman was exhibited to the public for the first time at the Eastbourne Redoubt.[6] In 2021, the remains were moved to the newly refurbished "Beachy Head Story" visitor centre, closer to where they were found.[7]

References
  1. "Beachy Head : Inhumation (MES33810)". The Keep. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  2. "Centuries old Beachy Head Lady's face revealed". BBC News. 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2021-11-24.
  3. Olusoga 2016, p. 33
  4. MacLeod, Logan (27 February 2020). "Story of Eastbourne celebrates first year with 23,000 visitors". Eastbourne Herald. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  5. "Beachy Head Lady was young sub-Saharan Roman with good teeth, say archaeologists". culture24.org.uk. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  6. Zoe Mintz. "Face Of 'Beachy Head Lady' Revealed, Roman Era Woman Is A 'Fantastic Discovery' [PHOTO]". International Business Times. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  7. Panons, Jacob (16 April 2021). "Eastbourne museum to open next month after gift shop welcomes customers". Eastbourne Herald.

Bibliography
  • Olusoga, David (2016). Black and British: a Forgotten History. Pan Macmillan. ISBN 9781447299745.
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