Red Lady of Paviland facts for kids
The Red Lady of Paviland is the name given to an almost complete human skeleton. It was found in a cave near Swansea, Wales, in 1823. This discovery was very important because it was the first time a scientific paper was published about finding an early modern human skeleton.
When the skeleton was found, it was covered in red ochre, a natural earth pigment. Because pearls and ivory items were found nearby, people first thought the skeleton belonged to a woman. The person who found it, William Buckland, even thought it might have been a witch from the Roman times in Britain.
How Old Is the Skeleton?
Scientists use a method called radiocarbon dating to find out how old ancient things are. In 1968, this method suggested the skeleton was about 22,000 years old. This age was a bit confusing because it meant people would have lived in Britain during a very cold part of the Ice Age.
Later, in 1989, more dating tests were done. These tests showed the skeleton was actually about 33,000 years old. Another test in 2008 confirmed this age. Around 33,000 years ago, the Ice Age was still happening, but it was a warmer period. This made it more likely that people could have lived in Britain then.
Who Was the Red Lady?
Even though she was called the "Red Lady," later studies showed the skeleton was actually that of a young man. He was probably around 21 years old when he died. This makes him one of the earliest known modern humans to live in the British Isles.
Where Is the Skeleton Now?
Today, you can see the Red Lady of Paviland skeleton at the Oxford Museum of Natural History. It helps us learn a lot about early human life in Britain.
See also
In Spanish: Dama roja de Paviland para niños
