From Richard III to modern
It was a find that was as grisly as it was mysterious when a walker, strolling on one of Orkney’s beaches, almost literally, stumbled across a human limb.
Police in Orkney did not know if the arm had come from a murder victim or a missing person.
Like many forces before them, they turned to one man, Professor Gordon Cook.
The world leading forensic bone scientist heads a Glasgow University team that can tell the age of a body from a tiny fragment.
His Glasgow University labs at the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre in East Kilbride can identify the remains of the recently murdered to others who died up to 50,000 years ago.
After tests, he could tell the island police the arm found on Burray Sands had been around for almost 3,000 years.
The skeletal chalk-white arm had remained largely intact. “It was in a remarkably good condition considering its age,” Professor Cook said.
“If a body is buried in dry conditions or other material that preserves bones and tissue well, it can be remarkably well preserved.
“That makes it difficult for police to establish whether the victim is fairly recent or ancient. Certainly not by just looking at it.
“The bone found in Burray Sands Orkney had belonged to an Iron Age person.”
Julie Gibson, regional archaeologist based on Orkney, revealed that Orkney is a rich seam of history because bones have been so well preserved on its sands.
“The environment is perfect for keeping very old skeletons so well that we have had a few Iron Age and older bones found on the shore,” said Julie of the University of the Highlands.
“It is a much better environment than the acidic soil found on mainland Scotland.
‘ If a body is buried in dry conditions, it can be remarkably well preserved