Bones of young woman 'abandoned' at South Pole could rewrite history of Antarctic exploration

A skull fragment discovered on a desolate Antarctic beach is sparking debate about the first humans to set foot on the icy continent.

The piece of cranium, found in 1985 on Yámana Beach, is believed to be the oldest human remains ever discovered in the South Pole region, potentially dating back to the early 19th Century.

The find was made by Chilean biologist Daniel Torres Navarro, who stumbled upon the partial skull while collecting marine debris along the shore.

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Initially, only the back part of the skull was visible, but further fragments, including parts of the upper jaw with several teeth, were unearthed shortly afterwards. Despite extensive searches of the surrounding area, no mandible or vertebrae were located, and two front teeth were missing.

Further analysis suggested that the remains belonged to a young Chilean woman who likely passed away between 1819 and 1825 - coinciding with the first confirmed sightings of Antarctica in 1820 and the earliest recorded landings soon after, reports the Daily Star.

If these dates are accurate, it would suggest an incredibly early human presence in the area, aligning with the era when sealers from South America, North America and Europe were venturing further south in pursuit of valuable pelts.

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The mystery of how the woman's remains ended up on the beach is yet to be solved. Navarro proposed two theories: she could have been part of a seal hunting voyage and was left behind on the shore for reasons unknown.

Alternatively, she may have died at sea and was given a burial overboard - a common maritime practice - with her remains later washed ashore by currents and storms. The harsh polar ecosystem and scavenging seabirds could explain the missing jaw and teeth and the lack of other skeletal material nearby.

Since the initial discovery, only sparse additional material has been found, including a femur near the site. This leads researchers to believe that the remains were widely dispersed by weather and wildlife. Without more comprehensive evidence, the woman's identity and the exact circumstances of her death remain a mystery.

This discovery contributes to a larger historical puzzle. While the Russian expedition led by Thaddeus von Bellingshausen is generally credited with the first sighting of the Antarctic continent in 1820, sealing crews were active across the Southern Ocean at the time.

Some accounts suggest landings occurred as early as 1821. So the presence of human remains from around that period on an Antarctic beach is plausible. It serves as a stark reminder of the risks early mariners faced in one of Earth's most unforgiving environments.

There are also more speculative theories. Some academics refer to Māori traditions that describe voyages deep into the Southern Ocean centuries earlier, notably the 7th‐Century journey attributed to Hui Te Rangiora. These accounts depict a "foggy, misty, dark place" in high southern latitudes.