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What this skeleton told us: Evidence

A young woman of around 18 to 25 years of age and 165 cm in height (5 feet 5 inches). There are some notches in her teeth and squatting facets are present on the joints of the ends of both shin bones (tibias), identified by the presence of small extensions to the joint surfaces at the bottom of the bones.

Interpretation of the evidence

In Anglo-Saxon Britain, if a woman survived childhood, she could be expected to live into middle-age, provided she maintained good health and did not die during pregnancy or childbirth. However, we should remember that humans are very good at adapting to challenging times! This woman was significantly above average height for this period, but died in early adulthood, perhaps during childbirth. The squatting facets suggest squatting for long periods of time and this might have been related to specific activities she was involved in, such as in farming. The notches in her teeth indicate the repeated holding of something between her teeth perhaps related to an activity like making baskets.

The Seven: The Irish Girl

This young woman was probably a weaver or needle-worker for the royal court. The nick in her front teeth may have come from holding the threads in her mouth as she worked.