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26/02/2007
Human skull dated to 18th century
Police investigating the discovery of a human skull in woodland in Aylesbury have dated the skull back to the eighteenth century.
The skull was found by a member of the public walking his dog in an area of Wendover Woods, known locally as 'The Bowl', on January 7.
The results of DNA profile retrieval from one of the remaining teeth and C14 carbon testing results date the skull's age to between 1757 and 1788. The results also revealed that the skull belonged to a white Caucasian man, who would have been aged between 20 and 40 at the time he died.
Despite a week-long search in the area where the skull was found, no other remains were located and experts believe that animals moved the skull to the place where it was found.
Thames Valley Police said that it was not possible to establish how the man met his death without the rest of the remains. However, experts said that the man would have suffered from severe toothache as the skull showed bone deformation around the jaw which would have been due to a massive abscess.
Detective Sergeant Pete Foy, who lead the investigation, said: "The team involved in the investigation worked hard, with enquiries going as far as the National Missing Persons Bureau. Initially the call came in as being a child's skull and concerns were that it could be more recent than it has turned out to be. Until we were sure we knew the age of the skull this had to be treated as a potential murder investigation.
Det Sgt Foy said that the investigation would now be closed because of the historic date of death and lack of other remains.
(KMcA/SP)
The skull was found by a member of the public walking his dog in an area of Wendover Woods, known locally as 'The Bowl', on January 7.
The results of DNA profile retrieval from one of the remaining teeth and C14 carbon testing results date the skull's age to between 1757 and 1788. The results also revealed that the skull belonged to a white Caucasian man, who would have been aged between 20 and 40 at the time he died.
Despite a week-long search in the area where the skull was found, no other remains were located and experts believe that animals moved the skull to the place where it was found.
Thames Valley Police said that it was not possible to establish how the man met his death without the rest of the remains. However, experts said that the man would have suffered from severe toothache as the skull showed bone deformation around the jaw which would have been due to a massive abscess.
Detective Sergeant Pete Foy, who lead the investigation, said: "The team involved in the investigation worked hard, with enquiries going as far as the National Missing Persons Bureau. Initially the call came in as being a child's skull and concerns were that it could be more recent than it has turned out to be. Until we were sure we knew the age of the skull this had to be treated as a potential murder investigation.
Det Sgt Foy said that the investigation would now be closed because of the historic date of death and lack of other remains.
(KMcA/SP)
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