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11,000-Year-Old Girl Discovered: Oldest Northerner Unveiled

2/21/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The University of Lancashire archaeologists identified an 11,000-year-old girl as the oldest northerner from remains found at Heaning Wood Bone Cave, Cumbria.
Excavations were led by local archaeologist Martin Stables, with the child named Ossick Lass and estimated to have died at age 2.5 to 3.5 years.
The burial points to early Mesolithic practices in northern Britain and is among the oldest in north-west Europe, with further research planned.

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Story summary

The University of Lancashire archaeologists identified an 11,000-year-old girl as the oldest northerner from remains found at Heaning Wood Bone Cave, Cumbria.
Excavations were led by local archaeologist Martin Stables, with the child named Ossick Lass and estimated to have died at age 2.5 to 3.5 years.
The burial points to early Mesolithic practices in northern Britain and is among the oldest in north-west Europe, with further research planned.