Woman Recognised as ‘First Black Briton’ by BBC Was Actually White

A woman who was recognised as the “first black Briton” by the BBC was actually white, a new genetic study has shown.

In 2016, the series Black and British: A Forgotten History, suggested that the Roman skeleton of a woman found at Beachy Head was from sub-Saharan Africa.

A plaque was erected to commemorate her heritage, which was later removed when a study suggested the woman was more likely to be from Cyprus, with a Mediterranean complexion.

Now a new DNA analysis of the skeleton by scientists at the Natural History Museum has shown that the woman originated from southern England and was white, with blonde hair and light eyes.

Dr William Marsh, who carried out the genetic study, said, “By using state of the art DNA techniques we were able to resolve the origins of this individual. We show she carries genetic ancestry that is most similar to other individuals from the local population of Roman-era Britain.”

The claim about the skeleton’s African origins was made in Prof David Olusoga’s documentary series, which told the story of the “enduring relationship between Britain and people whose origins lie in Africa”.

In episode one, the Beachy Head woman was presented as “sub-Saharan African in origin”, and the programme featured a reconstruction of her features, with dark skin, hair and eyes.

In the programme, Prof Olusoga remarked that “she’s a black Briton”, while Jo Seaman, an expert archaeologist, explained that her African origins and the age of her remains were likely to have made her the “earliest black Briton”.

However, in 2017 an initial genetic study suggested she 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 thought to have been discovered in the 1950s, although no details of an excavation have ever been found. The remains were rediscovered in a box in the collections of Eastbourne Town Hall in 2012, with a label suggesting that they had been found at Beachy Head.

Now it has been confirmed that the woman descended from the local British population of Roman-era southern England. Radiocarbon dating showed she died between 129 and 311AD, corresponding to the Roman occupation of Britain.

Analysis of her skeletal remains suggested that she was around 18-25 years old when she died, and stood at just over 4.9ft. A healed wound on her leg suggested a serious but non-fatal injury at some point in her life.

Dietary analysis looking at the carbon and nitrogen values in her bones also revealed that her diet was likely to have included a lot of seafood.

Dr Selina Brace of London’s Natural History Museum said: “Our scientific knowledge and understanding is constantly evolving, and as scientists, it’s our job to keep pushing for answers.

“Thanks to the advancement of technology that has occurred in the past decade, since the Beachy Head woman first came to light, we are excited to report this new comprehensive data and share more about this individual and her life.”

There has been ongoing scientific debate about the skin tone of early Britons, with some researchers suggesting that the constructors of Stonehenge were black.

However, some genetic studies have shown that the inhabitants of Britain in the period when Stonehenge was completed, around 2,500BC, were pale-skinned early farmers, whose ancestors had spread from Anatolia – modern-day Turkey.

A Natural History Museum analysis of “Cheddar Man” – the skeleton of an individual who lived in Somerset 10,000 years ago – suggested he had dark skin and blue eyes.

The research was published in the Journal of Archaeological Science.