New DNA quest over ‘Tarrant Hinton Man’

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Digging up Durotriges’ DNA secrets

THE Museum of East Dorset is collaborating with the Francis Crick Institute in a nationwide research project.

Funded by the Wellcome Foundation, the project seeks to establish the whole genome history and evolution in 1,000 ancient people from Great Britain, in order to aid medical research. It will also give the museum new information and fresh insights into people from the past.

Ancient DNA will be analysed from the skeletal remains of people who lived thousands of years ago in and around Tarrant Hinton, Dorset.

Remains of these individuals – thought to be members of the Celtic tribe of Durotriges who lived in Britain prior to the Roman invasion – were found by excavators from Wimborne Archaeological Group between 1968 and 1984. The area was occupied from the Bronze Age (2500 BC to 800 BC) through to the Iron Age (800 BC to AD 43) into Romano-British times up to AD 388.

Tiny samples have been taken from 17 burials for DNA analysis. For a sample there are three parts of the skull that can be used: the tiny bones from inside the ear commonly known as the hammer, anvil and stirrup; a piece of the temporal bone from the cranium; or a well-preserved tooth.

The Museum of East Dorset has consulted closely with Dr Simon Mays of Historic England and Professor Alistair Pike from the University of Southampton, who in 2019 were involved with analysis of the museum’s Iron Age TB skeleton, the earliest known case of TB in Britain, also from the Tarrant Hinton site. This suggested a high probability the man spent his early childhood in an area of Carboniferous Limestone to the west of Britain – possibly in south or west Ireland, on the Atlantic coast of southwest France or the Cantabrian Mountains of Northern Spain

Now, it may be possible to find out more about his specific strain of TB, which differs depending on geography.

The DNA analysis may take up to 12 months, Museum director Chezzie Hollow said the results would be awaited with great interest and any significant findings would be shared with the public.

Pontus Skoglund, head of the Francis Crick Institute’s Ancient Genomics Laboratory, said: “As part of this project, the unique heritage collections of the Museum of East Dorset will not only shed new light on archaeological questions but also aid our understanding of genetic health and disease through our larger integration with the medical resources of the UK biobank.”

Francis Crick Institute research scientist Jesse McCabe examines fragments from the Tarrant Hinton burials PHOTO: Museum of East Dorset

Police in appeal after assault claim

DO you recognise this person?

Police are keen to trace them in connection with an alleged assault in Upton, near Poole, at around 3pm on Friday, September 9.

Officers released the CCTV image after the incident at the Co-op, in Poole Road.

A man entered the shop and selected various items before putting the shopping basket down and leaving, saying he did not have his wallet, a spokesperson said.

“However, when the shop assistant went to look out of the store, the man returned and after a brief verbal exchange punched the store worker to the side of his head,” they added.

“It was reported that he also re-entered the shop, grabbed the basket and ran away.”

Police Community Support Investigator Adam Cleaver, of Dorset Police, said: “As part of my investigation, I am now in a position to release a CCTV image of a man I would like to identify.

“I would urge anyone who recognises him to please contact us.”

Anyone with information or who can identify the person should contact Dorset Police via www.dorset.police.uk/ contact.

They can also call 101, quoting incident number 55220150147.

Avlaki’s Accidental Olive Oils

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Deborah MacMillan and I didn’t intend to be olive farmers when we bought a small ruin on a seaside grove on Lesvos Island, Greece to restore as an escape from London. (Deborah is a painter and the widow of choreographer Kenneth MacMillan looking after his ballets with major companies around the world. I was presenting weekly broadcasts for BBC Radio.)

Every parcel of land on Lesvos is planted with olive trees: 11 million they say; we found ourselves with 1400. All pretty tired and the land starved of care. When we set to as good gardeners, the trees responded miraculously, making an excellent oil.

Lesvos oils are exceptionally light textured, never overwhelming other ingredients, so we realised they were perfect for the British palate IF you’re interested in good food! Thus started Avlaki Superb Organic Olive Oils.

Now joined by AVLAKI’s Organic OliveOil Soaps.

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Our oils come from 2 different terrains which we keep separate as they have individual characteristics. Mountain grown ‘Agatherí’ is light textured with complex afternotes; lowland ‘Avlaki’ is buttery and creamy. Our 3rd oil

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