Gristhorpe Man
Encyclopedia
The remains of Gristhorpe Man were found buried in a treetrunk coffin
in Gristhorpe
, North Yorkshire
, England
in the 19th century. They have been identified as a Bronze Age
warrior chieftain. A few other examples of burial in a scooped-out oak tree have been found in Scotland and East Anglia, but it was an unusual method of inhumation and the remains found near Scarborough, are the best preserved. The remains were discovered in 1834 by William Beswick in an ancient burial mound near Gristhorpe and excavated under the auspices of the Scarborough Philosophical Society. The Bronze Age remains were originally donated to the Rotunda Museum
in Scarborough. They were taken to Bradford in 2005 for a new evaluation while the museum was being refurbished.
. There were a lot of artefacts. The body was wrapped in a skin cloak, of which only fragments survive. There was a bronze dagger, a bark vessel that was sealed in some way, flint tools, hair from the hide and a wicker basket containing food residue. The individual was in his forties, a reasonable age in the Bronze Age, and seems to have died from natural causes. There were many healed fractures, consistent with the life of a warrior.
Much of what was dug up in 1834 has not survived. There was a lot of fatty material, probably from degraded body tissues, in the watery coffin which had dried out. The bones were discoloured by the reaction of iron in the water with the tannin
in the bark of the coffin and the skeleton was originally preserved by boiling it in horse glue in a laundry copper. This ruined any chance by present day archaeologists to do a DNA
study, or use collagen
from the body for dating purposes. The composition of a ceremonial bronze dagger
helped confirm the dating. Metallurgical and lead isotope analyses of the bronze dagger blade indicate that Ireland was the ultimate source of the copper ore used, but that it had been recycled with other ores being introduced. The original 1834 illustration of the blade appears to depict a scabbard that is no longer present. Scanning electron microscopy detected traces of animal collagen on the blade, confirming the former presence of a scabbard. The pommel of the dagger was fashioned from whalebone. The flint knife provided evidence of it having been hafted and re-sharpened twice. Microwear analysis indicated that it had been used to work hides and cut meat.
The recent work has permitted comparison with radiocarbon dates
from other British examples, as well as with the series of dendrochronological dates
obtained from Bronze Age tree-trunk coffin burials which have been excavated in Denmark where such burials are much more common. Isotopic analysis of a tooth has indicated he originated from the Scarborough area and ate a lot of meat when he was young. Radiocarbon dating of the tooth dentine has shown that he died around 4000 years old.
Dr Alan Ogden, an osteologist at Bradford University, has completed what is thought to be a first in forensic archaeology by reconstructing Gristhorpe Man’s face and making him ‘talk’ using computer software, while forensic examinations have turned up information about the man’s history. The man’s likely cause of death was ascertained by tests at Bradford Royal Infirmary. They found, with the help of a CT scan, that he had a brain tumour growing on the left side of his skull which may well have led to him suddenly collapsing.
The remains are on display in the Rotunda Museum in Scarborough alongside details of the new insights and findings into his warrior life.
Treetrunk coffin
A treetrunk coffin, hollowed out of a single massive log, is a feature of some prehistoric elite burials over a wide range especially in Northern Europe as far east as the Balts, who abandoned cremation about the 1st century CE, and in central Lithuania, buried their elite in treetrunk coffins. ...
in Gristhorpe
Gristhorpe
Gristhorpe is a village and civil parish in the Scarboroughdistrict of North Yorkshire, England. According to the 2001 UK census, Gristhorpe parish had a population of 386....
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in the 19th century. They have been identified as a Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
warrior chieftain. A few other examples of burial in a scooped-out oak tree have been found in Scotland and East Anglia, but it was an unusual method of inhumation and the remains found near Scarborough, are the best preserved. The remains were discovered in 1834 by William Beswick in an ancient burial mound near Gristhorpe and excavated under the auspices of the Scarborough Philosophical Society. The Bronze Age remains were originally donated to the Rotunda Museum
Rotunda Museum
The Rotunda Museum is one of the oldest purpose-built museums still in use in the United Kingdom. The curved grade II* listed building was constructed in 1829 as one of the country's first purpose-built museums...
in Scarborough. They were taken to Bradford in 2005 for a new evaluation while the museum was being refurbished.
Recent findings
The Bradford team deduced that the man was a high status individual, not unlike a tribal chieftain judging by his height of six feet. Growing to such a height may well have been because of a relatively good diet, an indication of social standing. He also boasts a full set of teeth in remarkable condition. Other clues to his status come from the grave goodsGrave goods
Grave goods, in archaeology and anthropology, are the items buried along with the body.They are usually personal possessions, supplies to smooth the deceased's journey into the afterlife or offerings to the gods. Grave goods are a type of votive deposit...
. There were a lot of artefacts. The body was wrapped in a skin cloak, of which only fragments survive. There was a bronze dagger, a bark vessel that was sealed in some way, flint tools, hair from the hide and a wicker basket containing food residue. The individual was in his forties, a reasonable age in the Bronze Age, and seems to have died from natural causes. There were many healed fractures, consistent with the life of a warrior.
Much of what was dug up in 1834 has not survived. There was a lot of fatty material, probably from degraded body tissues, in the watery coffin which had dried out. The bones were discoloured by the reaction of iron in the water with the tannin
Tannin
A tannin is an astringent, bitter plant polyphenolic compound that binds to and precipitates proteins and various other organic compounds including amino acids and alkaloids.The term tannin refers to the use of...
in the bark of the coffin and the skeleton was originally preserved by boiling it in horse glue in a laundry copper. This ruined any chance by present day archaeologists to do a DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
study, or use collagen
Collagen
Collagen is a group of naturally occurring proteins found in animals, especially in the flesh and connective tissues of mammals. It is the main component of connective tissue, and is the most abundant protein in mammals, making up about 25% to 35% of the whole-body protein content...
from the body for dating purposes. The composition of a ceremonial bronze dagger
Dagger
A dagger is a fighting knife with a sharp point designed or capable of being used as a thrusting or stabbing weapon. The design dates to human prehistory, and daggers have been used throughout human experience to the modern day in close combat confrontations...
helped confirm the dating. Metallurgical and lead isotope analyses of the bronze dagger blade indicate that Ireland was the ultimate source of the copper ore used, but that it had been recycled with other ores being introduced. The original 1834 illustration of the blade appears to depict a scabbard that is no longer present. Scanning electron microscopy detected traces of animal collagen on the blade, confirming the former presence of a scabbard. The pommel of the dagger was fashioned from whalebone. The flint knife provided evidence of it having been hafted and re-sharpened twice. Microwear analysis indicated that it had been used to work hides and cut meat.
The recent work has permitted comparison with radiocarbon dates
Radiocarbon dating
Radiocarbon dating is a radiometric dating method that uses the naturally occurring radioisotope carbon-14 to estimate the age of carbon-bearing materials up to about 58,000 to 62,000 years. Raw, i.e. uncalibrated, radiocarbon ages are usually reported in radiocarbon years "Before Present" ,...
from other British examples, as well as with the series of dendrochronological dates
Dendrochronology
Dendrochronology or tree-ring dating is the scientific method of dating based on the analysis of patterns of tree-rings. Dendrochronology can date the time at which tree rings were formed, in many types of wood, to the exact calendar year...
obtained from Bronze Age tree-trunk coffin burials which have been excavated in Denmark where such burials are much more common. Isotopic analysis of a tooth has indicated he originated from the Scarborough area and ate a lot of meat when he was young. Radiocarbon dating of the tooth dentine has shown that he died around 4000 years old.
Dr Alan Ogden, an osteologist at Bradford University, has completed what is thought to be a first in forensic archaeology by reconstructing Gristhorpe Man’s face and making him ‘talk’ using computer software, while forensic examinations have turned up information about the man’s history. The man’s likely cause of death was ascertained by tests at Bradford Royal Infirmary. They found, with the help of a CT scan, that he had a brain tumour growing on the left side of his skull which may well have led to him suddenly collapsing.
The remains are on display in the Rotunda Museum in Scarborough alongside details of the new insights and findings into his warrior life.