Neolithic skeleton Blodwen to return to Llandudno

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The skeleton of a Neolithic woman is to return to north Wales over a century after she was discovered.

"Blodwen" was found on Little Orme in Llandudno, Conwy county, in 1891.

Carbon dating revealed she died around 3,510 BC. She was in her late 50s or early 60s and was about 5ft (1.52m).

It is hoped Blodwen could form the centrepiece of a renovated Llandudno Museum, if an application for funding is successful.

The engineer who stumbled across Blodwen while excavating quarry works donated her to the Bacup Natural History Society in Lancashire where he lived, and she has remained there ever since.

Blodwen has been loaned to Llandudno twice for exhibitions, but reaching an agreement for her permanent return has taken careful negotiation.

Dr Sian James from Llandudno Museum said: "The recent rekindling of the story has come about from the interest in the subject by Paul Lydiate, a masters student making a film about the skeleton called Bones of Contention.

"Both societies have visited each other and a productive relationship and discussion regarding the skeleton has resulted.

"On the two occasions Blodwen has been loaned to the Llandudno Museum, the last being in 2010, she's brought cultural, historical and economic benefits to the town."

Orthopaedic examinations show that Blodwen was powerfully built, and her bone structure suggests she was accustomed to carrying heavy loads, both on her head and in her arms. She had severe arthritis in her neck and knees.

At the time of her death she was also suffering from secondary cancer.

The examination of the bones also suggested she was from a farming community. Experts believe she would have been an elder of her community, due to her unusually advanced age for the time.