Prehistoric human material in the Nottingham Natural History Museum, and the Cresswell Crags Museum and Heritage Centre

Abstract

The Creswell Crags Museum and Heritage Centre (CCMHC) and the Nottingham Natural History Museum, Wollaton Hall (NOTNH) both curate collections of prehistoric human material that have undergone limited documentation. The condition of current records demanded revision, which this study will perform. Reported here are nine cranial, and five postcranial Neolithic and late Iron Age human bone specimens, as well as two teeth, collected at the CCMHC from the late 19th century excavation of the caves of the gorge and nearby area. Three crania, and three post cranial human bone fragments dating to the late Pleistocene are present among the NOTNH collection; these originate from various locations in the East Midlands. This paper offers a revised account of the material, providing detailed osteological descriptions, and biological profiling of sex, age, pathology and taphonomy; where possible historical backgrounds, and radiocarbon dating information are included in this report. Overall the specimens were found to be in fair condition, while the collections' records of the material required minor corrections.