Greta, the Eve of England, was once believed to be the oldest skull ever excavated in England, regarded as an archaeological treasure for decades. However, a completely surprising truth about her has just been revealed in a new study.
According to Ancient Origins, this specimen was excavated in 1943 and was prominently displayed at the Burton upon Trent Museum for many years. When the museum closed, the specimen was preserved in a cabinet for the past 40 years. Initially, it was thought to be dated up to 10,000 years old.
The skull believed to be “the Eve of England” for nearly 8 decades – (Photo: David Adkins)
In 2019, “the Eve of England” was once again brought to the public eye and was prominently displayed at the Stoke’s Potteries museum, after freelance archaeologist David Ankins from Burton presented analyses indicating she was actually 4,000 years older than previously thought, based on a mammoth tooth found at the burial site. Mammoths went extinct 14,000 years ago, so Greta must be at least 14,000 years old.
Mr. Adkins also analyzed the injury on Greta’s skull – “the Eve of England” and discovered that her death must have been due to decapitation. This conclusion was based on comparative studies with a series of decapitated skulls from Lake Motala (Sweden). Therefore, the value of the skull was elevated as it could be evidence of a more brutal ritual over 10,000 years ago.
However, recently, experts from Durham University, Oxford University, and the Francis Crick Institute in London re-examined Greta. The results of radiocarbon dating showed that “the Eve of England” is actually only… 1,000 years old!
This discovery immediately led to the previous narrative about Greta being regarded as a century-old archaeological hoax. But according to the new research group, the specimen is indeed valuable in a different way.
The final conclusion indicates that “the Eve of England” was actually decapitated during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century. Thus, she still carries a special historical significance.
