Researchers have examined the remains of an 11th-century man, known as 'Conquest Man', whose skeleton was found buried at St Peter’s church in Barton-upon-Humber. The oak coffin he was interred in was made from a tree felled in 1079, likely around the time of his death.
While details such as his age at death (50s or 60s), stocky build, healed fractures, and height (5ft 1in) are known, his origins have been unclear. Kevin Booth, English Heritage’s head curator of collections, who leads the project, stated that the man was likely neither Norman nor Saxon.
New, un-peer-reviewed work by researchers at Historic England, the Francis Crick Institute, the British Geological Survey, the University of Southampton, and the Face Lab at Liverpool John Moores University suggests Scandinavian origins. DNA analysis indicates substantial continental ancestry, and skull shape studies point to a Scandinavian background. Strontium isotopes in his teeth are consistent with living in the Barton area, while oxygen isotopes suggest he may have spent time in a colder region during adolescence.
His grave goods, including applewood staffs, also show a Scandinavian influence. Booth suggested the most likely explanation is that he arrived from Scandinavia, which would not be surprising given Barton's location within the Viking-controlled Danelaw before the conquest. However, Booth noted it is also plausible, though less likely, that he arrived with the Norman army in 1066, potentially having come to Normandy from Scandinavia beforehand.