Body from thousands of years ago found in bog

WELL-PRESERVED ancient human remains have been discovered in a bog in the North.

Archaeologists from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s body recovery team obtained the remains after human bones were found on the surface of peatland in Bellaghy, Co. Derry, in October of last year. They have been carbon-dated by experts at Queen’s University in Belfast as being between 2,000 and 2,500 years old. The skeletal remains are believed to be from a male aged between 13 and 17 years at the time of his death.

Detective Inspector Nikki Deehan said police could not initially be sure if the remains were ancient or the result of a more recent death. ‘Therefore, we proceeded to excavate the body with full forensic considerations in a sensitive and professional manner,’ she said. ‘This approach also ensures any DNA evidence could be secured for any potential criminal investigation. Ultimately this wasn’t the case in this instance.’

The excavations first uncovered a tibia and fibula, as well as a humerus, ulna and radius bone, relating to the lower left leg and right arm respectively. Further investigation revealed more bones belonging to the same individual. Little is known so far about the male’s cause of death, though the skeleton was well preserved and had the presence of partial skin, fingernails of the left hand, toenails and possibly a kidney.

‘The well-preserved nature of the body meant radiocarbon dating could be used to ascertain the time of death,’ said Det Insp Deehan.

She said the time of death was placed at ‘approximately 500BC’.