Mystery of Britain’s ‘most ancient skull’ lost for 40 years solved – after 14,000-year-old Greta’s cranium found in dusty cupboard

Harry Pettit, Senior Digital Technology and Science Reporter

Published: 11:21, 2 Sep 2019
Updated: 13:19, 2 Sep 2019

A PREHISTORIC skull believed to be the oldest ever found in Britain spent four decades collecting dust in a cupboard.

The artefact, thought to be up to 14,000 years old, has been rediscovered in Stoke after it went missing in the 1970s following the closure of the museum where it was on display.

This ancient skull was unearthed in Staffordshire in 1943. It belonged to a Stone Age woman scientists have named "Greta"

The skull, of a Stone Age woman scientists have named "Greta", was unearthed in Branston, Staffordshire, in 1943.

It was placed on display at the Burton upon Trent Museum until the building's closure around 40 years ago.

Greta's noggin – at the time believed to be about 10,000 years old – was subsequently lost, sparking a decades-long search by archaeologists.

Now, archaeology enthusiast David Adkins has rediscovered the ancient cranium in a cupboard at Stoke's Potteries Museum.

Greta's skull has been rediscovered by archaeology enthusiast David Adkins 40 years after its disappearanceCredit: BPM Media

What's more, David suggests the skull is 4,000 years older than previous estimates.

A mammoth tooth close to where the skull was originally uncovered suggests it may be at least 14,000 years old.

That would make Greta the world's most ancient female skeleton.

David, a community centre manager from Burton, said: "I went back to the paper records and found buried in the archive an account of a mammoth tooth that came from the same location after Greta was found.

Greta's noggin was placed on display at the Burton upon Trent Museum until the building's closure around 40 years ago. It was subsequently lost, sparking a decades-long search by archaeologistsCredit: BPM Media

What was it like in Britain in the Stone Age?

Here's what you need to know about our prehistoric ancestors...

The Stone Age was a prehistoric period in which ancient people would mostly use stone to create tools
It lasted for around 3.4 million years and ended around 8700 to 2000 BC
It was followed by the Bronze Age
At the British "Atlantis" settlements the Stone Age people could have been hunting all sorts of animals from deer and wild cattle to seals and fish
The area would have been covered in rich grasslands with lot of plants to gather and a variety of bird eggs to collect
Stone Age people mostly used stone tools and spears but also made baskets from reeds and wore animal skins for warmth
Stone Henge is one of Britian's most famous sites and is an example of late Stone Age ceremonial practices

"The mammoth became extinct in Britain over 14,000 years ago.

"If the tooth was one of the grave goods in Greta's grave, she could be over 14,000 years old, pushing her back in time to the Palaeolithic or Early Stone Age."

If true, Greta's skull is three times older than Stonehenge.

"This would be incredible, I don't know of any other complete skulls of men or women from this period," David said.

A mammoth tooth (left) close to where the skull was uncovered suggests it may be at least 14,000 years oldCredit: BPM Media

"I have always believed she is the greatest anthropological find in Britain of the 20th century... She has caused a media whirlwind and has become famous here in Burton.

"People are talking about her in the corridors of power and in the backstreet shops, which is wonderful. She belongs to everyone and is part of all our histories."

Greta is currently being examined at the Francis Crick Institute, a London research centre - and will feature in an upcoming Channel 4 documentary.

She will shortly be moved to Durham University for further tests.