posted
1,700-yr-old skeleton of African immigant found in Britain Israel News.Net Wednesday 26th January, 2011 (IANS)
Archaeologists have unearthed a 1,700-year-old skeleton of an African immigrant at a Roman cemetery in Warwickshire in Britain.
The discovery, made during analysis of remains found near Stratford-upon-Avon, suggests that African immigrants lived far afield of major settlements such as London and York as early as the third or fourth century.
Stuart Palmer, Warwickshire county council's archaeology projects manager, said the find was surprising because it indicated that people of African descent lived in Warwickshire far earlier than historians thought, the Daily Mail reports.
Experts tought that the skeleton, found in the Tiddington Road area of Stratford during a dig in 2009, may be that of a slave or a former Roman soldier.
A report by experts in excavated remains established that the man was of African descent and was probably in his 40s or 50s when he died.
Palmer said the skeletal remains also revealed that the man was heavily-built and that the condition of his spine showed he was used to carrying heavy loads.
Evergreen Member # 12192
posted
quote:Originally posted by Evergreen: 1,700-yr-old skeleton of African immigant found in Britain Israel News.Net Wednesday 26th January, 2011 (IANS)
The 1,700 year old male skeleton of African decent has been discovered buried in Stratford-upon-Avon and indicates that people from Africa have been living in Warwickshire for far longer than previously thought. One of the many theories is that the man was a former Roman soldier who chose to retire in Stratford about 1,700 years ago.
Malin Holst of York Osteoarchaeology Ltd explained how she had identified elements of the mature African male skeleton in bones unearthed from a Roman period cemetery in Stratford-upon-Avon.
The man's teeth showed evidence of illness in childhood and abscess before death. Stuart Palmer of Warwickshire County Council’s ‘Archaeology Warwickshire’ is studying the find, and said: “African skeletons have previously been found in large Romano-British towns like York and African units are known to have formed part of the Hadrian’s Wall garrison, but we had no reason to expect any in Warwickshire and certainly not in a community as small as Roman Stratford.”
The skeletal remains revealed that the man was heavily built and the bones in his central spine showed he was used to carrying heavy loads. Curved dental wear in the upper jaw was probably related to a task he regularly performed with his teeth.
An injury to his shoulder must have been all the worse for his arthritis which was also evident in his hips and lower back. Before he died he suffered from a severe inflammation of the right shin and a painful infection from a dental abscess made his last moments a misery.
Further analysis of his teeth showed that his childhood was plagued by disease or malnutrition, however, the final cause of his death is still a mystery.
Currently there is no evidence to suggest where exactly he was born – though he is definitely of African descent – and whether he was from North Africa or sub Saharan Africa. There is still much work to be done to find out more about his birth, life and death; he could for instance have been a merchant, though, based on the evidence of the skeletal pathology it is more likely that he was a person who was used to manual labour.
There is no direct evidence to suggest he was a slave, and none that can link him with being a veteran soldier who has been given land to farm on his retirement from the army. Studies in York for example show the African population in this Roman town was more likely to be from a well off group in society, than any of the other lower orders.
Investigation into the man’s background is continuing and analysis of oxygen and strontium isotopes within his teeth might shed further light on his early life, but there is currently no funding available for such work. Without this, his story, which is one that stirs the imagination, may remain forever a mystery.
Djehuti Member # 6698
posted
^ So much for ancient Britain's white "purity" LOL. All thanks to the Romans' cosmopolitan empire which by included North Africa and not "sub-Sahara". Of course this is nothing new and one is automatically reminded of the Ivory Bangle Lady.
Mike111 Member # 9361
posted
Djehuti - Are you trying to be funny? You must know that Cheddar Man was a Black man. Cheddar Man is the name given to the remains of a human male found in Gough's Cave in Cheddar Gorge, Somerset, England. The remains date to approximately 12,700 B.C. It is Britain’s oldest complete human skeleton - his Mtdna is U5 - also found in the Lichtenstein Cave.
Clyde Winters Member # 10129
posted
quote:Originally posted by Evergreen:
quote:Originally posted by Evergreen: 1,700-yr-old skeleton of African immigant found in Britain Israel News.Net Wednesday 26th January, 2011 (IANS)
The 1,700 year old male skeleton of African decent has been discovered buried in Stratford-upon-Avon and indicates that people from Africa have been living in Warwickshire for far longer than previously thought. One of the many theories is that the man was a former Roman soldier who chose to retire in Stratford about 1,700 years ago.
Malin Holst of York Osteoarchaeology Ltd explained how she had identified elements of the mature African male skeleton in bones unearthed from a Roman period cemetery in Stratford-upon-Avon.
The man's teeth showed evidence of illness in childhood and abscess before death. Stuart Palmer of Warwickshire County Council’s ‘Archaeology Warwickshire’ is studying the find, and said: “African skeletons have previously been found in large Romano-British towns like York and African units are known to have formed part of the Hadrian’s Wall garrison, but we had no reason to expect any in Warwickshire and certainly not in a community as small as Roman Stratford.”
The skeletal remains revealed that the man was heavily built and the bones in his central spine showed he was used to carrying heavy loads. Curved dental wear in the upper jaw was probably related to a task he regularly performed with his teeth.
An injury to his shoulder must have been all the worse for his arthritis which was also evident in his hips and lower back. Before he died he suffered from a severe inflammation of the right shin and a painful infection from a dental abscess made his last moments a misery.
Further analysis of his teeth showed that his childhood was plagued by disease or malnutrition, however, the final cause of his death is still a mystery.
Currently there is no evidence to suggest where exactly he was born – though he is definitely of African descent – and whether he was from North Africa or sub Saharan Africa. There is still much work to be done to find out more about his birth, life and death; he could for instance have been a merchant, though, based on the evidence of the skeletal pathology it is more likely that he was a person who was used to manual labour.
There is no direct evidence to suggest he was a slave, and none that can link him with being a veteran soldier who has been given land to farm on his retirement from the army. Studies in York for example show the African population in this Roman town was more likely to be from a well off group in society, than any of the other lower orders.
Investigation into the man’s background is continuing and analysis of oxygen and strontium isotopes within his teeth might shed further light on his early life, but there is currently no funding available for such work. Without this, his story, which is one that stirs the imagination, may remain forever a mystery.
Money is never available to research Black history.
.
Mike111 Member # 9361
posted
Somebody really needs to slap the sh1t out of these lying Albino pieces of sh1t.
Check this quote: Studies in York for example show the African population in this Roman town was more likely to be from a well off group in society, than any of the other lower orders. (Obviously, and as we already know, Africans formed the nobility) until the Germanic invasion.
But yet these Albino liars, in the next breath want to make it sound as if Blacks were RARE in Britain - what pathetic lying ass-holes.
Brada-Anansi Member # 16371
posted One can argue about the exact shade he was but this man brought Africans Soldiers in Rome's armies to be stationed at Hadrian's wall It is often forgotten that Rome’s African provinces were some of its most important and it has been suggested that there may have been a black Roman Emperor (Septimus Severus). There are in fact several inscriptions found in Britain that mention the Emperor Septimus Severus. It is generally accepted that Septimus Severus was born in Numidia, also in North Africa and there is the possibility that the unit Numerus Maurorum Aurelianorum was brought to Britain around AD 193-211 during his reign. It was recently suggested that African DNA might be found to be present in the local populations near to Hadrian’s Wall, for instance Burgh-by-Sands. However, this would not conclusively show that the black Roman soldiers on the wall intermarried with the local population because of the problem of admixture. Admixture is a process whereby the DNA of a population becomes diluted over time and it cannot be shown at what period in time that dilution took place.
what black African would have a full straight haired beard and hair like that?
IronLion Member # 16412
posted
quote:Originally posted by the lioness:
what black African would have a full straight haired beard and hair like that?
Lioness my Dunce
It seems you want another intellectual beatdown following the one you got in the "Was Rome White?" thread....
This beating here will keep you inactive for one month....
Dare?
the lioness Member # 17353
posted The skeletal remains revealed that the man was heavily built and the bones in his central spine showed he was used to carrying heavy loads. Curved dental wear in the upper jaw was probably related to a task he regularly performed with his teeth.
he could for instance have been a merchant, though, based on the evidence of the skeletal pathology it is more likely that he was a person who was used to manual labour.
The 1,700 year old male skeleton of African decent has been discovered buried in Stratford-upon-Avon
quote:Originally posted by Mike111: (Obviously, and as we already know, Africans formed the nobility)
IronLion Member # 16412
posted
quote:Originally posted by the lioness: The skeletal remains revealed that the man was heavily built and the bones in his central spine showed he was used to carrying heavy loads. Curved dental wear in the upper jaw was probably related to a task he regularly performed with his teeth.
he could for instance have been a merchant, though, based on the evidence of the skeletal pathology it is more likely that he was a person who was used to manual labour.
The 1,700 year old male skeleton of African decent has been discovered buried in Stratford-upon-Avon
quote:Originally posted by Mike111: (Obviously, and as we already know, Africans formed the nobility)
The skeletal remains revealed that the man was heavily built and the bones in his central spine showed he was used to carrying heavy loads. Curved dental wear in the upper jaw was probably related to a task he regularly performed with his teeth.
he could for instance have been a merchant, though, based on the evidence of the skeletal pathology it is more likely that he was a person who was used to manual labour.
The 1,700 year old male skeleton of African decent has been discovered buried in Stratford-upon-Avon
Another segment of the article:
There is no direct evidence to suggest he was a slave, and none that can link him with being a veteran soldier who has been given land to farm on his retirement from the army.
Mixed signals?
the lioness Member # 17353
posted
quote:Originally posted by The Explorer:
quote:Originally posted by the lioness:
The skeletal remains revealed that the man was heavily built and the bones in his central spine showed he was used to carrying heavy loads. Curved dental wear in the upper jaw was probably related to a task he regularly performed with his teeth.
he could for instance have been a merchant, though, based on the evidence of the skeletal pathology it is more likely that he was a person who was used to manual labour.
The 1,700 year old male skeleton of African decent has been discovered buried in Stratford-upon-Avon
Another segment of the article:
There is no direct evidence to suggest he was a slave, and none that can link him with being a veteran soldier who has been given land to farm on his retirement from the army.
Mixed signals?
a manual laborer doesn't have to be a slave
Djehuti Member # 6698
posted
^ LOL @ the lyingass grasping in the dark. Sure, you're definitely a West African proud of her people.
quote:Originally posted by the lioness:
what black African would have a full straight haired beard and hair like that?
His hair isn't straight but curly, moron. And if you knew anything about Roman history you would know that Septimius Severus was of mixedancestry.
Sundjata Member # 13096
posted
quote:Stratford-upon-Avon African skeleton was Roman soldier
Archaeologists said they now believed the man may have been a Roman soldier who chose to retire in Stratford after serving in an African unit.
Not disputing it, but I'm curious as to which documents suggest that these military units were "segregated"?
alTakruri Member # 10195
posted
Considering the Roman Legion was a regularized army with no place for warriors I doubt any standout ethnic units using non-Roman warfare tactics existed.
The writings on Severus in Britain explicitly mention one lone Aethiopian in a review. This would be the first written documention of an African black in the Tin (British) Isles.
Of the three art pieces I know of depicting African Roman soldiers neither of them show only Africans.
= = =
The earlier posted sources on Severus' background seem to conflict on his maternal ancestry. One says it was Italian the other says it was African settled in Italy.
(A) He was of Italian Roman ancestry on his mother's side ...
versus
(B) ...his mother, Fulvia Pia, was from a family which had moved from Africa to Italy.
= = =
ADDENDUM: I need to supply a precision. There were irregular auxilary companies (numeri). They were from recently conquered provinces and composed of troops who were only superficially Romanized.
A numerus Maurorum was deployed in Britain in the 3rd century near Carlisle. The above mentioned lone Aethiopian was attached.
Other long allied and/or fully Romanized African soldiers would have served with the regulars.
The Explorer Member # 14778
posted
quote:Originally posted by the lioness:
a manual laborer doesn't have to be a slave
Your reaction to a post suggesting that the African personality may have been in the higher rungs of society, by posting a segment of the article talking about the "manual labor", made me not rule out the possibility that you might be insinuating slavery. Hence, I sought to clarify that the article acknowledges that there is no direct evidence of slavery as a factor.