Local archaeologist Martin Stables began excavations at Heaning Wood Bone Cave in 2016, finding several other bodies and artefacts such as a shell bead and a pendant made from a deer tooth.
“It’s nearly 10 years since I started the excavations and I couldn’t have envisaged the journey I have undertaken,” Stables said.
“It’s as if I went back in time to 9,000 BC.
“Ultimately, reaching the Mesolithic Period has obviously become the highlight of the excavation and something that’s particularly poignant to myself.
“Effectively, I was the first to bear witness to the obviously caring burial of someone’s child that occurred over 11,000 years ago.”
Stables was keen the Mesolithic girl’s remains were named to bind her and her resting place together.