In what has been described as an archaeological breakthrough, researchers have unearthed the remains of a young Sarmatian man from over two millennia ago.
Discovered in the countryside of Cambridgeshire, the complete and remarkably preserved skeleton, known as Offord Cluny 203645, has propelled historical narratives into uncharted territories.
The groundbreaking findings stem from exhaustive analyses conducted on Offord Cluny’s remains, offering profound insights into the ancient world’s intricacies.
This discovery presents the foremost biological evidence that firmly links the Sarmatian nomadic group to the remote corners of Roman Britain, reshaping perceptions of rural life during that epoch.
Dr. Marina Silva, from the Ancient Genomics Laboratory at the Francis Crick Institute in London, spearheaded the investigation, meticulously decoding the ancient DNA extracted from a minute bone fragment found within Offord Cluny’s inner ear.
Through this meticulous process, the team revealed a riveting tale of a young man’s transcontinental journey, spanning from the southern reaches of Russia to the tranquil landscapes of England.
“This is not like testing the DNA of someone who is alive,” she explained.
“The DNA is very fragmented and damaged. However, we were able to (decode) enough of it.
“The first thing we saw was that genetically he was very different to the other Romano-British individuals studied so far.”
