Archaeologists have identified the oldest human remains ever found in Northern Britain, a discovery highlighted by researchers at the University of Central Lancashire. The find sits on the Hining Wood Coast, where human bones and a littorina shell bead were uncovered in a cave known as Hining Wood Burial Cave.
Radiocarbon dating places the oldest remains at around 11,000 years old, indicating a late Ice Age occupation of the landscape. Scientific analysis shows that at least eight individuals are represented within the cave, and even though many fragments are scattered, the presence of grave goods suggests these burials were intentionally placed as part of ritual or communal practice.
Further study reveals that the cave served as a burial site during three distinct time periods: the Early Mesolithic around 11,000 years ago, the Early Neolithic roughly 5,500 years ago, and the Early Bronze Age about 4,000 years ago. The 11,000-year date derives from the shell found among the grave goods, underscoring the long span of use for this site.
Before this discovery, the oldest known tomb in northern Britain stood at about 10,000 years old and was located in the nearby Kents Bank cave, which was identified in 2013.
Experts note that cave burials of this nature are well documented for certain phases of British prehistory, and the Hining Wood remains contribute important new evidence about how ancient communities across Britain treated their dead in a coastal setting.
In related regional work, earlier investigations by archaeologists identified burial-related finds in other parts of the broader region, including the discovery of burial-related artifacts dating to about 4,700 years ago in Iraq, illustrating a wider pattern of ancient burial practices across different cultures.