August 25, 2025
Archaeologists amazed to find West African ancestors in early medieval England

Archaeologists amazed to find West African ancestors in early medieval England

The DNA, which was recovered by skeletons, which were buried in a cemetery from the 7th century on the south coast of England, shows that the buried people had West African descent and raised further questions about early medieval migrations.

During this time, archaeologists documented a considerable migration from continental northern Europe to England, with historical reports describing the settlement of perspectives, Saxony and Jutes.

However, the extent of the movement from the further distance has remained unclear.

In order to further understand early medieval migration in Europe, the researchers carried out DNA analyzes to people who were buried at the south coast of England-update in Kent and Matravers in Dorset at two ad cemeteries of the 7th century.

The results published in Two Studies in the Journal AntiquityShow clear signs of niece European descent from two buried people with affinity to today’s groups who live in West Africa south of the Sahara.

The human skeleton remains in a double funeral on the Cemetery Worth Matraver, together with the anchor stone under the head of the older individual (Lilian Ladle, Ciridwen J. Edwards, Antique (2025)))

The human skeleton remains in a double funeral on the Cemetery Worth Matraver, together with the anchor stone under the head of the older individual (Lilian Ladle, Ciridwen J. Edwards, Antique (2025)))

While most people who were buried in the cemeteries had either Northern European or Western British and Irish descent, a person had an ancestor from West Africa at every cemetery, scientists said.

“Kent has always been an influencing channel from the adjacent continent, and this was particularly shaped in the 6th century – what Kents could be called ‘Franconian phase’,” said Duncan Sayer, author of the University of Lancasire.

“Updown is also near the Royal Center of Finglesham, which points out that these connections were part of a wider royal network,” said Dr. Sayer.

In contrast, Dorset was on the edge of the continental influence, said researchers.

“The archaeological evidence indicates a significant and remarkable cultural gap between Dorset and areas in the west and the Anglo -Saxon areas in the east,” said Ciridwen J Edwards, one of the authors of the other study, from the University of Huddersfield.

The individuals showed clear signs of non -European descent with affinity for today’s groups of Yoruba, Mende, Mandenka and Esan from West Africa Subsahara, as was found in the study.

Another DNA analysis showed that they had mixed descent, both of which had a fatherly grandparent from West Africa.

It was found that the updown grave contains several goods, including a pot that was probably imported from Franconian Gaul, and a spoon that indicates the Christian faith of the individual or the connections to the Byzantine Empire.

This cemetery was part of the Kent Royal Network, and these grave goods and genetic indicators indicate the continental connections of the region, as the study found.

Grab 47 With Updown: Photo and neighboring grave plan show the positioning of the body and the grave goods (antiquity (2025)))

Grab 47 With Updown: Photo and neighboring grave plan show the positioning of the body and the grave goods (antiquity (2025)))

The other person on the word for Worth Matravers was buried alongside a man with a British descent and an anchor from local limestone.

According to archaeologists, the fact that the individuals were buried together with typical members of their communities indicates that they were valued on site.

“What is fascinating about these two people is that this international connection occurs both in the east and in the western Britain,” said Dr. Sayer.

“Updown is located in the center of the early Anglo-Saxon culture zone, and in contrast, Matravers is located directly outside of his periphery in the sub-Roman west,” he said.

According to the researchers, the results raise further questions about the remote movement and demographic interaction in Great Britain in the early Middle Ages.

“Our common results emphasize the cosmopolitan nature of England in the early Middle Ages and point to a diverse population with distant connections that were nevertheless completely integrated into everyday life,” concluded Dr. Edwards.

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