Mudlarker discovers 600-year-old skull of teenager on Thames banks

Mark Iglesias Vasco, a 50-year-old experienced mudlarker from South London, made a remarkable discovery while searching the foreshore of the River Thames at low tide. He found a skull belonging to a teenager, likely aged around 16, which he initially mistook for a coconut. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was a full skull, prompting him to contact the police due to a significant head injury observed on the remains. After 15 months of forensic analysis, police scientists revealed that the skull, named 'Florian' by Mark, belonged to a young person who had a predominantly marine diet, suggesting a possible connection to seafaring activities. The forensic report indicated a 95.4% probability that the skull dates back to between 1405 and 1532 AD, a period marked by various conflicts in England. The skull has since been transferred to the Museum of London for further research to determine the teenager's origin and gender. Mark expressed fascination with the findings, particularly the historical context surrounding the young person's life during a tumultuous time in history. This discovery not only sheds light on the life of a medieval teenager but also highlights the importance of archaeological finds in understanding past societies. The ongoing research may provide deeper insights into the individual’s background and the circumstances that led to their untimely death.