Brymbo Man : The Evidence

To understand Bronze Age Britain we have to rely on the study of monuments and finds that have survived into the present day.

In the case of Brymbo Man, what do we have to go on?

The Skeleton

Pathologists can by examining a human skeleton tell us much about the person when alive: the person's age, sex and height, their diet, where they grew up and the cause of death.

 

The Beaker

The type of pottery, its shape, fabric and decoration are all clues. Archaeologists know beakers changed over time. They use these clues to work out the approximate date of manufacture.

 

The Flint Knife

As with pottery, it is possible to roughly date a flint knife by looking at its shape and its cutting edges. You look for similar flints the age of which are already known.

 

The Stone Cist

They were a common feature in the Early Bronze Age, especially in Beaker Burials.

 

Creating such a grave required a lot of work. What kind of person would merit such a grave? Was he special or are there many similar tombs out there undiscovered?

More information on Neolithic & Bronze Age Burials >>

 

Brymbo Man - What do we know?

Age: about 35

By checking the wear on his teeth and the fusion of the bones in his skull.
 

Date of Birth: c1635BC

By identifying the beaker as a "Short Necked" type made about 1600BC

 

Height: 5'8"/173cm

By measuring his tibia (a lower leg bone). Its length is in proportion to his height.
 

Build: Stocky

The shape of his skull and the muscle attachments to his skull and leg bones show that he was a powerfully built man.
 

Distinguishing Features: Wound above hairline on forehead

By closely examining the damage to the skull, we can tell that he survived the wound because we can see it healed. The teardrop shaped pit points to an arrow being the probable cause.
 

Post Mortem Events

By examining the bones closely, the bone specialist noticed cut marks made with a sharp instrument. Perhaps their burial practices involved de-fleshing the bones.
 

Religious Affiliation: Belief in the afterlife

The Beaker may have contained a drink for his journey in the afterlife. The flint knife was perhaps there for Brymbo Man to prepare a snack on the way.

 

More information on the Changing Views of Brymbo Man

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Related links
Brymbo Man Revealed
The Reconstruction
The Evidence
The Changing Views
Burials
Understanding Prehistory
Brymbo Man for Kids
Wrexham Culture & Heritage