Face of woman who lived 900 years ago revealed for first time after bombshell find

The face of a woman who lived in Britain 900 years ago has been recreated by scientists after the discovery of her skull.

Skeletons from 14 bodies were found buried at Holy Trinity Kendal Parish Church in Kendal, Cumbria. They were uncovered during flood management work by the Environment Agency in 2022.

Experts at Liverpool John Moores University then recreated one woman's likeness using computer technology. The woman, about 50 when she died in the 1200s, is believed to have lived in the town all of her life. She had been called 'Kendal Woman'.

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But there is now a poll to give her a proper name before she is buried again in the place where she once lay, alongside the other 14 bodies found. She was found during flood management work in Cumbria, hard hit by storms in the past.

Visitors to Kendal Parish Church are being asked to choose a name for her from a shortlist, with the meanings at that time, while her image is on display.

She could become Agnes (pure, or holy); Amice (a medieval variation of Amy, meaning loved, or friend) Annora (honour); Bodil (penance and fight); Clemence (French for merciful); Frieda (peace, beautiful); Hilda (fighter); Jord (Norse for earth); Kara (a Norse Valkyrie, a mythical figure, meaning the 'wild, stormy one') or Tove (meaning Dove).

The scientists were able to work out her skin colour and complexion, the fact that she was likely to have her hair long and wrapped up in a scarf on her head, and that she worked on the land.

Kendal Parish Church's Revd Canon Shanthi Thompson said she would be given a proper burial with the other bodies that were found. "We don't know what her name was as she was buried 900 years ago and there was no headstone," she said.

"But we want to give her the dignity of a name now. There was work with wool around Kendal at that time, and also growing food. The archaeologists have looked at her DNA and where her roots might have been.

"This building has been here since the 11 or 12th century, but they were a site of worship long before the building was started.

"She was once a worshipper here, part of our community." Stephen Dean, an Environment Agency senior archaeologist said they had found the body "reasonably intact".

A team carried out analysis of bones, teeth, and DNA, and also did radiocarbon dating. "Her bones suggest she led a hard life," he added.

"Our reconstruction shows the ruddy complexion of one who has worked outdoors extensively, probably in the fields which would have surrounded the town."

There were indications she had been buried without a coffin. Her position on the site suggested that she was not of high status. She is likely to be reburied in the churchyard next year.