An online talk by Thomas Booth, Senior Laboratory Research Scientist at Skoglund Lab Ancient Genomics Laboratory, on ancient DNA and what we have learned about Britain 15,000-2000 years ago.

Next Generation Sequencing technology has enabled vast improvements  in the study of ancient DNA over the last 15 years and we now have genome-wide data from thousands of humans from the last c.50,000 years. The long history of archaeology in Britain, ranging from antiquarian digs to modern commercial excavations has meant that archaeological institutions collectively have accumulated a vast assemblage of human remains dating to a variety of periods over the last 20,000 years. As a result, Britain has been a particular target for studies of ancient DNA, and we now have genetic information from over 1000 ancient people who lived in Britain over the last 15,000 years.

Reconstructed head of the Cheddar Man based on the shape of his skull and DNA analysis, shown at the National History Museum in London (2019). Wikimedia: Werner Ustorf.

The proliferation of ancient genetic information from Britain means that we now have a clear idea about the demographic history of Britain before written records, revealing amongst other things several major episodes of migration and genetic change and patterns of relatedness amongst burials at significant sites, including those around Stonehenge.

In this talk I will discuss what we have learned from ancient DNA about Britain 15,000-2000 years ago, from the end of the last Ice Age up to the development of written histories.

Please note access details for this online talk will be distributed to Society Members in advance of the event.