Chemical tests on teeth from an ancient burial near Stonehenge indicate that the person in the grave grew up near the Mediterranean Sea. The bones belong to a teenager who died 3,550 years ago and was buried with a distinctive amber necklace containing about 90 amber beads.
The conclusions come from analysis of different forms of the elements oxygen and strontium in his tooth enamel. Analysis on a previous skeleton found near Stonehenge also showed that the previous person was also a migrant to the area.
The conclusions come from analysis of different forms of the elements oxygen and strontium in his tooth enamel. Analysis on a previous skeleton found near Stonehenge also showed that the previous person was also a migrant to the area.
"He's around 14 or 15 years old and he's buried with this beautiful necklace," said Professor Jane Evans, head of archaeological science for the BGS. "The position of his burial, the fact he's near Stonehenge, and the necklace all suggest he's of significant status."
Dr Andrew Fitzpatrick, of Wessex Archaeology, backed this interpretation: "Amber necklaces are not common finds," he told BBC News.
You can read more in an article by Paul Rincon, Science reporter for the BBC News, at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11421593
My thanks to John Rees for telling me about this story.
