Dorset teenager finds human skull remains in River Stour

Tom Read, 15, was scouring the River Stour at White Mill, Sturminster Marshall, last June when he found what he thought was an old boot.

However, once he pulled it out he realised it was a human skull, which has since been estimated to be at least 1400 years old.

Saxon skull found in the River Stour by teenager Tom Read. Picture: Rachel Read

The teenager’s mum, who both hail from Poole, said her son has always been interested in finding historical artefacts and could not believe his discovery,

Mrs Read said: “He's always been a bit of a treasure seeker, he's done a lot of metal detecting and mud larking and is always finding things.

Tom Read. Picture: Rachel Read

“He was given a pair of river waders a few days before for his birthday and it was his first trip out in them finding a few things - including a human skull.

“We brought it home and thought what on earth had we done because it’s not necessarily something you want to have in your possession so we contacted the county coroner.”

Saxon skull found in the River Stour by teenager Tom Read. Picture: Rachel Read

In turn they got in touch with the police who came round to pick it up and ten days later conducted a crime scene investigation and the location it was found, taking Tom along with them.

Mrs Read continued: “Tom was lucky enough to join the dive team and three archaeological experts from Bournemouth University who were looking for other bones and trying to identify if it was modern or not.

“The only bones that were found were animal, nothing human.”

Saxon skull found in the River Stour by teenager Tom Read. Picture: Rachel Read

The experts concluded the skull was at least 100 years old, making it a skull of antiquity and meaning it was not subject to a police investigation in terms of how it got there.

Several months later it was radiocarbon dated and recently the family found out the skull's estimated real age.

“It was very exciting because one of the experts thought it was a river burial or a burial which the river has meandered over since and obviously we have never found any kind of human bones before,” added Mrs Read.

“They come up with a range of 450-600 AD, the archaeology departments say that they think it's early Anglo-Saxon.”

Divers investigate skull find. Picture: Rachel Read

Mrs Read says her son wants to venture into history and archaeology at university and has an Instagram called Tom.finds which has more than 2,000 followers - showcasing all of his discoveries from old coins to antique pottery.

The skull is now set to be documented and could be put on display at the Dorchester County Museum.