Gristhorpe Man: an Early Bronze Age log-coffin burial scientifically defined

Abstract

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Exceptional preservation of a prehistoric human brain from Heslington, Yorkshire, UK

“…Cerebrosides are present mainly in brain white matter, especially in myelin (Siegel and Albers, 2006, 35). The same distribution of 2-hydroxy acids and sterols has been found in the brain tissue of Gristhorpe Man (Melton et al, 2010;Heron, unpublished results) and in permafrost-preserved mammoth brains (Kreps et al, 1981). There are no biomarkers indicative of artificial preservation techniques such as smoking or embalming in the Heslington brain mass.…”

Proteomics analysis of ancient food vessel stitching reveals >4000‐year‐old milk protein

“…In July 1834, an intact, remarkably well-preserved log-coffin, containing a flexed skeleton laid on its right side and both organic and inorganic grave goods, was excavated from the central and most prominent of three barrows on the cliff top at Gristhorpe, North Yorkshire, UK. [1][2][3][4][5] 'Gristhorpe Man' was, at the time of the discovery, considered to be a Brigantian chief, being powerfully built, over 6 ft tall and of advanced age. [1] The log-coffin burial is one of 75 recorded in Britain that date from the twenty-third to seventeenth century cal BC.…”

“…Symbolic associations with woodland and occasionally with boats can be identified on the basis of material, shape and, in cases such as at Gristhorpe, the grave's location overlooking the sea. [5] Origins and diet Gristhorpe Man's origins and diet have been previously investigated using a combination of radiogenic and stable isotope mass spectrometry measurements. [5] Strontium, lead and phosphate oxygen isotope ratios from the mandibular second molar tooth enamel were all found to be consistent with origins on the Jurassic silicate rocks of the Scarborough region but not of Jurassic or Permian limestones or the Cretaceous Chalk of the Wolds [10][11][12][13] and thus support the conclusion that he probably spent his childhood in north-east Yorkshire.…”

“…[5] Origins and diet Gristhorpe Man's origins and diet have been previously investigated using a combination of radiogenic and stable isotope mass spectrometry measurements. [5] Strontium, lead and phosphate oxygen isotope ratios from the mandibular second molar tooth enamel were all found to be consistent with origins on the Jurassic silicate rocks of the Scarborough region but not of Jurassic or Permian limestones or the Cretaceous Chalk of the Wolds [10][11][12][13] and thus support the conclusion that he probably spent his childhood in north-east Yorkshire. Childhood (root dentine) and later life (cortical femur) diet investigated using carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis of collagen indicated that his diet contained a substantial amount of animal protein of terrestrial origin from an early age, placing him at the upper end of the range for other East Yorkshire and British Late Neolithic and Bronze Age individuals.…”

Gristhorpe Man: a Raman spectroscopic study of ‘mistletoe berries’ in a Bronze Age log coffin burial

“…From the quality of his grave artefacts and the prominent siting of his burial in the landscape, it is now believed that Gristhorpe Man was an important member of society in the Early Bronze Age. [5] As part of this project, we have undertaken the Raman spectroscopic analysis of three small spherical nodules found in the coffin underneath the human skeleton; these have been initially identified [1] as 'mistletoe berries', which it was believed were placed in the coffin as part of an ancient funerary rite, and subsequently [2] as 'a few dried fruits and seeds . .…”