For a time she was hailed by historians as the earliest known black Briton, a woman who lived and died on these islands during the Roman occupation but whose ancestry was thought to lie in sub-Saharan Africa.

New DNA evidence tells a different story. The skeleton known as Beachy Head Woman was not a long-distance immigrant. Instead, it seems most likely that she was a local, with roots closer to Eastbourne than Eritrea.

Her remains came to light in 2012 when they were found in the collections of Eastbourne Town Hall. A label suggested that the skeleton had been recovered from Beachy Head in the 1950s, but no excavation records have been found. Radiocarbon dating later placed her death between AD129 and 311. An initial analysis of the shape of her skull suggested links with populations from sub-Saharan Africa.

Later DNA analysis seemed to hint instead at Mediterranean origins, possibly in Cyprus, but the data was too thin to be reliable.

Researchers at the Natural History Museum in London have now completed the first full genetic study, using techniques unavailable when the bones were first examined more than a decade ago. High-quality DNA sequencing has shown that her ancestry is similar to other individuals living in Roman-era Britain. The revision reflects the limits of the earlier research techniques that misled experts and inspired facial reconstructions depicting a black woman.

Beachy Head, East Sussex

GETTY IMAGES

In the same year, the historian David Olusoga described her being of African descent in his BBC series Black and British: A Forgotten History.

Dr William Marsh of the Natural History Museum, who co-led the latest genetic analysis, said the results had finally solved the mystery. “By using state-of-the-art DNA techniques we were able to resolve the origins of this individual. We show she carries genetic ancestry that is most similar to other individuals from the local population of Roman-era Britain,” he said.

Dr Selina Brace, also of the Natural History Museum and senior author of the study, said the findings illustrated the need to revisit old conclusions as scientific techniques improve. “Our scientific knowledge and understanding is constantly evolving and as scientists it’s our job to keep pushing for answers,” she said.“Thanks to the advancement of technology that has occurred in the past decade since Beachy Head Woman first came to light, we are excited to report these new comprehensive data and share more about this individual.”

Researchers can tell that she was a young woman, aged between 18 and 25, and relatively short by today’s standards, standing just over 4ft 9in. A healed injury on her leg indicates a serious but non-fatal wound earlier in life. Chemical analysis of her bones suggests a diet rich in seafood, consistent with a coastal upbringing.