German cathedral bones 'are Saxon queen Eadgyth'
Scientists have revealed that they think bones found in a German cathedral are those of one of the earliest members of the English royal family.
The remains of Queen Eadgyth, who died in 946, were excavated in Magdeburg Cathedral in 2008.
The granddaughter of Alfred the Great, King of Wessex, the Saxon princess married Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor, in 929.
The findings are due to be presented at the University of Bristol later.
A spokesman from the university said the bones were the oldest surviving remains of an English royal burial.
As the half sister of Athelstan, who is considered to have been the first king of all of England, Eadgyth had at least two children with Otto and lived most of her married life in Magdeburg, Saxony. She died aged about 36.
She was buried in the monastery of St Maurice but her bones were moved at least three times.
She was finally interred in an elaborate tomb at Magdeburg Cathedral in 1510, wrapped in silk in a lead coffin.
A study of the bones at the University of Mainz confirmed that the remains were those of a woman who died aged between 30 and 40.
Professor Kurt Alt found evidence that she was a frequent horse rider and ate a high-protein diet, including a lot of fish, hinting at her high status.
Director of the project Professor Harald Meller, of Germany's State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology, said: "Medieval bones were moved frequently and often mixed up, so it required some exceptional science to prove that they are indeed those of Eadgyth.
"It is incredible that we have been able to do this using the most recent analytical techniques."
Banished to a monastery
Crucial evidence came from the study of teeth in Eadgyth's upper jaw.
Researchers at the University of Bristol's Department of Archaeology and the Institute of Anthropology at Mainz University studied strontium and oxygen isotopes that mineralise in the teeth when they form.
Dr Alistair Pike, from the University of Bristol, explained: "By micro-sampling, using a laser, we can reconstruct the sequence of a person's whereabouts, month by month up to the age of 14."
The queen was interred in an elaborate tomb They found the isotope results exactly matched records of Eadgyth's childhood and adolescence in Wessex.
Professor Mark Horton said: "Eadgyth seems to have spent the first eight years of her life in southern England, but changed her domicile frequently, matching quite variable strontium ratios in her teeth. Only from the age of nine, the isotope values remain constant.
"Eadgyth must have moved around the kingdom following her father, King Edward the Elder, during his reign.
"When her mother was divorced in 919 - Eadgyth was between nine and 10 at that point - both were banished to a monastery, maybe Winchester or Wilton in Salisbury."
Her bones will be reburied in Magdeburg Cathedral later this year, 500 years after they were interred there in 1510.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/bristol/somerset/10332975.stm
Remains of first king of England's sister found in German cathedralBones offer insight into the royal life of Eadgyth, who was married off to a German king in 929 by her brother Athelstan
Steven Morris
She ate lots of fish, rode frequently, may have suffered from a disease or an eating disorder at 10 and regularly moved around the chalky uplands of southern England, presumably as she followed her regal father around his kingdom.
Analysis of remains found in a German cathedral have not only confirm they belonged to the granddaughter of the English king Alfred the Great but also given an insight into the life and times of a Saxon princess.
Eadgyth (roughly pronounced Edith) was packed off by her brother as a diplomatic gift to Otto, the king of Saxony, more than 1,000 years ago. She died aged 36 and her remains were thought to have been lost forever until body parts were found wrapped in silk in a lead coffin two years ago.
Earlier this year the skeletal fragments were brought back to Britain, and experts at Bristol University will today spell out why they are sure the remains are those of Eadgyth and what they know of her life.
Mark Horton, an archaeology professor at Bristol, said it was "incredibly exciting" to confirm that the bones were the princess's and to find out more about her life.
"This period was when England was really formed," he said. "We don't know much about these dark age queens and princesses. This has created a connection with one of them."
Eadgyth was born in Wessex in 910 into one of the most powerful families in England. She was daughter of Edward the Elder, and half-sister to Athelstan, the first king of all England.
In 929 Athelstan sent her and her sister, Adiva, off to Otto and invited him to take his pick, sealing an alliance between two of the rising stars of the Saxon world. Eadgyth was chosen and the couple had at least two children before she died in 946.
Chroniclers of the time paid tribute to her beauty and recorded how devoted Otto was to her. She was also praised for her good works.
Eadgyth was buried in a monastery, but her bones were moved several times before being interred in an elaborate tomb in Magdeburg Cathedral in Saxony-Anhalt in 1510.
It had been assumed that the bones had vanished and the tomb was empty, but in 2008 German archaeologists opened it and found it contained a lead box holding skeletal remains.
The challenge for the archaeologists was to show that the remains, which had been moved so often, and could easily have been substituted by others, were those of Eadgyth.
A study of the bones at the University of Mainz confirmed that the remains belonged to a single female, who died between 30 and 40. One of the femur heads suggested the individual was a frequent horse rider, hinting at her nobility.
Analysis of the bones suggested she enjoyed a high-protein diet, including a large quantity of fish, which again suggested she was an aristocrat.
It proved impossible to extract DNA from the remains – and the problem then, anyway, would have been fbut finding a sample of a descendant to try to match them to. Unfortunately vital parts were missing, including hands, feet and much of the skull. But crucial scientific evidence came from the study of the teeth preserved in the upper jaw.
A technique measuring the strontium and oxygen isotopes mineralised in the teeth as they are formed was used. The value of these isotopes depends on the local environment and its underlying geology – this valuable data is effectively "locked into" the teeth.
Studying tiny samples of enamel allowed scientists to work out that she must have spent time in Wessex's chalky uplands.
Horton said it had been possible to map almost month by month where the woman had lived as a child and were able to check this against what is known about Eadgyth's youth. But the findings added detail to what was known.
He said: "Eadgyth seems to have spent the first eight years of her life in southern England, but changed her domicile frequently, matching quite variable strontium ratios in her teeth. Only from the age of nine, the isotope values remain constant.
"Eadgyth must have moved around the kingdom following her father, King Edward the Elder during his reign. When her mother was divorced in 919 – Eadgyth was between nine and ten at that point –both were banished to a monastery, maybe Winchester or Wilton in Salisbury."
Trauma was also indicated in her skeleton around this same age, suggesting a dramatic change in her circumstances. She may at this time have suffered a disease or eating disorder, said the scientists.
More tests will be carried out on the material found in the coffin but the princess will be laid to rest later this year when the bones are reburied in Magdeburg Cathedral.
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/jun/17/saxon-princess-remains
Scientists have revealed that they think bones found in a German cathedral are those of one of the earliest members of the English royal family.
The remains of Queen Eadgyth, who died in 946, were excavated in Magdeburg Cathedral in 2008.
The granddaughter of Alfred the Great, King of Wessex, the Saxon princess married Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor, in 929.
The findings are due to be presented at the University of Bristol later.
A spokesman from the university said the bones were the oldest surviving remains of an English royal burial.
As the half sister of Athelstan, who is considered to have been the first king of all of England, Eadgyth had at least two children with Otto and lived most of her married life in Magdeburg, Saxony. She died aged about 36.
She was buried in the monastery of St Maurice but her bones were moved at least three times.
She was finally interred in an elaborate tomb at Magdeburg Cathedral in 1510, wrapped in silk in a lead coffin.
A study of the bones at the University of Mainz confirmed that the remains were those of a woman who died aged between 30 and 40.
Professor Kurt Alt found evidence that she was a frequent horse rider and ate a high-protein diet, including a lot of fish, hinting at her high status.
Director of the project Professor Harald Meller, of Germany's State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology, said: "Medieval bones were moved frequently and often mixed up, so it required some exceptional science to prove that they are indeed those of Eadgyth.
"It is incredible that we have been able to do this using the most recent analytical techniques."
Banished to a monastery
Crucial evidence came from the study of teeth in Eadgyth's upper jaw.
Researchers at the University of Bristol's Department of Archaeology and the Institute of Anthropology at Mainz University studied strontium and oxygen isotopes that mineralise in the teeth when they form.
Dr Alistair Pike, from the University of Bristol, explained: "By micro-sampling, using a laser, we can reconstruct the sequence of a person's whereabouts, month by month up to the age of 14."
The queen was interred in an elaborate tomb They found the isotope results exactly matched records of Eadgyth's childhood and adolescence in Wessex.
Professor Mark Horton said: "Eadgyth seems to have spent the first eight years of her life in southern England, but changed her domicile frequently, matching quite variable strontium ratios in her teeth. Only from the age of nine, the isotope values remain constant.
"Eadgyth must have moved around the kingdom following her father, King Edward the Elder, during his reign.
"When her mother was divorced in 919 - Eadgyth was between nine and 10 at that point - both were banished to a monastery, maybe Winchester or Wilton in Salisbury."
Her bones will be reburied in Magdeburg Cathedral later this year, 500 years after they were interred there in 1510.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/bristol/somerset/10332975.stm
Alfred the Great's granddaughter's bones identified
The bones of Alfred the Great's granddaughter Eadgyth have been discovered in Germany.
Forensic anaylsis of the contents of a recently-discovered tomb has concluded that it contained the oldest surviving remains of any member of the English Royal family
The tomb was hailed as ''one of the most exciting historical discoveries in recent years'' when they were first investigated in 2008.
Queen Eadgyth, pronounced Edith, was given in marriage to the Holy Roman Emperor, Otto I, in 929 AD and bore him two children in Saxony, Germany, until her death in 946 AD at the age of 36.
The royal remains were brought back to Eadgyth's native Wessex for identification in January.
Anthropological study of the bones confirmed that the remains belonged to a female, who died between 30 and 40 years of age.
One of the femurs showed evidence that the individual was a frequent horse rider, pointing to a noble heritage.
Isotope analysis of the bones suggested that she enjoyed a high protein diet, including a large quantity of fish, again implying a high status aristocratic lady.
DNA analysis proved inconclusive due to the poor preservation of the tomb, so experts used a technique measuring the strontium and oxygen isotopes in the teeth.
The value of these isotopes depends on the local environment and its underlying geology that is then locked into the teeth.
Samples of the teeth were studied at the University of Bristol's Department of Archaeology and the Institute of Anthropology at the University of Mainz.
It was possible to 'triangulate' the location of the first 14 years of Eadgyth's life, which pin point the chalk regions of southern Britain.
Mark Horton, Professor in Archaeology at the University of Bristol, said: ''Eadgyth seems to have spent the first eight years of her life in southern England, but changed her domicile frequently, matching quite variable strontium ratios in her teeth.
''Only from the age of nine, the isotope values remain constant.
''Eadgyth must have moved around the kingdom following her father, king Edward the Elder during his reign.
''When her mother was divorced in 919 - Eadgyth was between nine and ten at that point - both were banished to a monastery, maybe Winchester or Wilton in Salisbury.''
The female skeleton, wrapped in a silk sheet inside a lead coffin marked with Queen Eadgyth's name, was first discovered in a tomb in Magdesburg Cathedral, Germany.
But due to a custom in the Middle Ages of moving bones to different locations after a death, scientists needed to carrying out tests to confirm their true identity.
Eadgyth's brother King Athelstan became the first official King of England after unifying Saxon and Celtic kingdoms after the battle of Brunanburgh in 937 AD.
The remains were brought back to the UK in January, so that researchers at the University of Bristol can trace the isotopes in the bones to find out where she lived.
The bones were studied by a team of scientists including forensic scientists, biologists, archaeologists, specialists in medieval textiles and art historians
Director of the project, Professor Harald Meller of the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology, Saxony-Anhalt, said: ''Medieval bones were moved frequently, and often mixed up, so it required some exceptional science to prove that they are indeed those of Eadgyth.
''It is incredible that we have been able to do this using the most recent analytical techniques.''
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/archeology/7832418/Alfred-the-Greats-granddaughters-bones-identified.html
The bones of Alfred the Great's granddaughter Eadgyth have been discovered in Germany.
Forensic anaylsis of the contents of a recently-discovered tomb has concluded that it contained the oldest surviving remains of any member of the English Royal family
The tomb was hailed as ''one of the most exciting historical discoveries in recent years'' when they were first investigated in 2008.
Queen Eadgyth, pronounced Edith, was given in marriage to the Holy Roman Emperor, Otto I, in 929 AD and bore him two children in Saxony, Germany, until her death in 946 AD at the age of 36.
The royal remains were brought back to Eadgyth's native Wessex for identification in January.
Anthropological study of the bones confirmed that the remains belonged to a female, who died between 30 and 40 years of age.
One of the femurs showed evidence that the individual was a frequent horse rider, pointing to a noble heritage.
Isotope analysis of the bones suggested that she enjoyed a high protein diet, including a large quantity of fish, again implying a high status aristocratic lady.
DNA analysis proved inconclusive due to the poor preservation of the tomb, so experts used a technique measuring the strontium and oxygen isotopes in the teeth.
The value of these isotopes depends on the local environment and its underlying geology that is then locked into the teeth.
Samples of the teeth were studied at the University of Bristol's Department of Archaeology and the Institute of Anthropology at the University of Mainz.
It was possible to 'triangulate' the location of the first 14 years of Eadgyth's life, which pin point the chalk regions of southern Britain.
Mark Horton, Professor in Archaeology at the University of Bristol, said: ''Eadgyth seems to have spent the first eight years of her life in southern England, but changed her domicile frequently, matching quite variable strontium ratios in her teeth.
''Only from the age of nine, the isotope values remain constant.
''Eadgyth must have moved around the kingdom following her father, king Edward the Elder during his reign.
''When her mother was divorced in 919 - Eadgyth was between nine and ten at that point - both were banished to a monastery, maybe Winchester or Wilton in Salisbury.''
The female skeleton, wrapped in a silk sheet inside a lead coffin marked with Queen Eadgyth's name, was first discovered in a tomb in Magdesburg Cathedral, Germany.
But due to a custom in the Middle Ages of moving bones to different locations after a death, scientists needed to carrying out tests to confirm their true identity.
Eadgyth's brother King Athelstan became the first official King of England after unifying Saxon and Celtic kingdoms after the battle of Brunanburgh in 937 AD.
The remains were brought back to the UK in January, so that researchers at the University of Bristol can trace the isotopes in the bones to find out where she lived.
The bones were studied by a team of scientists including forensic scientists, biologists, archaeologists, specialists in medieval textiles and art historians
Director of the project, Professor Harald Meller of the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology, Saxony-Anhalt, said: ''Medieval bones were moved frequently, and often mixed up, so it required some exceptional science to prove that they are indeed those of Eadgyth.
''It is incredible that we have been able to do this using the most recent analytical techniques.''
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/archeology/7832418/Alfred-the-Greats-granddaughters-bones-identified.html
Remains of first king of England's sister found in German cathedralBones offer insight into the royal life of Eadgyth, who was married off to a German king in 929 by her brother Athelstan
Steven Morris
She ate lots of fish, rode frequently, may have suffered from a disease or an eating disorder at 10 and regularly moved around the chalky uplands of southern England, presumably as she followed her regal father around his kingdom.
Analysis of remains found in a German cathedral have not only confirm they belonged to the granddaughter of the English king Alfred the Great but also given an insight into the life and times of a Saxon princess.
Eadgyth (roughly pronounced Edith) was packed off by her brother as a diplomatic gift to Otto, the king of Saxony, more than 1,000 years ago. She died aged 36 and her remains were thought to have been lost forever until body parts were found wrapped in silk in a lead coffin two years ago.
Earlier this year the skeletal fragments were brought back to Britain, and experts at Bristol University will today spell out why they are sure the remains are those of Eadgyth and what they know of her life.
Mark Horton, an archaeology professor at Bristol, said it was "incredibly exciting" to confirm that the bones were the princess's and to find out more about her life.
"This period was when England was really formed," he said. "We don't know much about these dark age queens and princesses. This has created a connection with one of them."
Eadgyth was born in Wessex in 910 into one of the most powerful families in England. She was daughter of Edward the Elder, and half-sister to Athelstan, the first king of all England.
In 929 Athelstan sent her and her sister, Adiva, off to Otto and invited him to take his pick, sealing an alliance between two of the rising stars of the Saxon world. Eadgyth was chosen and the couple had at least two children before she died in 946.
Chroniclers of the time paid tribute to her beauty and recorded how devoted Otto was to her. She was also praised for her good works.
Eadgyth was buried in a monastery, but her bones were moved several times before being interred in an elaborate tomb in Magdeburg Cathedral in Saxony-Anhalt in 1510.
It had been assumed that the bones had vanished and the tomb was empty, but in 2008 German archaeologists opened it and found it contained a lead box holding skeletal remains.
The challenge for the archaeologists was to show that the remains, which had been moved so often, and could easily have been substituted by others, were those of Eadgyth.
A study of the bones at the University of Mainz confirmed that the remains belonged to a single female, who died between 30 and 40. One of the femur heads suggested the individual was a frequent horse rider, hinting at her nobility.
Analysis of the bones suggested she enjoyed a high-protein diet, including a large quantity of fish, which again suggested she was an aristocrat.
It proved impossible to extract DNA from the remains – and the problem then, anyway, would have been fbut finding a sample of a descendant to try to match them to. Unfortunately vital parts were missing, including hands, feet and much of the skull. But crucial scientific evidence came from the study of the teeth preserved in the upper jaw.
A technique measuring the strontium and oxygen isotopes mineralised in the teeth as they are formed was used. The value of these isotopes depends on the local environment and its underlying geology – this valuable data is effectively "locked into" the teeth.
Studying tiny samples of enamel allowed scientists to work out that she must have spent time in Wessex's chalky uplands.
Horton said it had been possible to map almost month by month where the woman had lived as a child and were able to check this against what is known about Eadgyth's youth. But the findings added detail to what was known.
He said: "Eadgyth seems to have spent the first eight years of her life in southern England, but changed her domicile frequently, matching quite variable strontium ratios in her teeth. Only from the age of nine, the isotope values remain constant.
"Eadgyth must have moved around the kingdom following her father, King Edward the Elder during his reign. When her mother was divorced in 919 – Eadgyth was between nine and ten at that point –both were banished to a monastery, maybe Winchester or Wilton in Salisbury."
Trauma was also indicated in her skeleton around this same age, suggesting a dramatic change in her circumstances. She may at this time have suffered a disease or eating disorder, said the scientists.
More tests will be carried out on the material found in the coffin but the princess will be laid to rest later this year when the bones are reburied in Magdeburg Cathedral.
Printable version Send to a friend Share Clip Contact us larger | smaller EmailClose Recipient's email address Your first name Your surname Add a note (optional)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/jun/17/saxon-princess-remains
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