In 2022, archaeologists worked on the ancient DNA from a number of early medieval cemeteries, and found two individuals that stood out. One was from Updown Eastry in Kent, known as Updown girl, and the other was a young man from Worth Matravers in Dorset. Both were dated to the 7th century and both appeared to have west African heritage.

Two recent papers on these findings, along with other discoveries, highlight that English people from this time with west African heritage spanned generations and social status. The burials of these individuals also show that they were integrated into their respective communities. For example, Updown girl was buried next to her maternal relatives.

As a result, the presence of African heritage should not be a surprise. Early medieval society was much richer and more globally connected than most people believe.

Updown Eastry is a cemetery associated with the early Anglo-Saxon Kentish elite and part of a royal network. Updown girl was aged between 11 and 13 at her time of death and was buried around the middle of the seventh century.

An analysis of her autosomal DNA (which derives from both parents) found she was 67% continental northern European and 33% west African – most closely related to modern-day Esan and Yoruba populations in Nigeria. One of her great grandparents was 100% west African. Some of her maternal relatives were buried close by and their ancestry derived from northern Europe.

The second burial was of a young man aged between 17 and 25 at the time of his death. He was found in a grave with an........

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