Police find bog body dated over 2,000 years in Bellaghy

Q Radio News

Archaeologists within the Police Service of Northern Ireland, have uncovered ancient human remains carbon dated as old as 2,000-2,500 years. 

The Archaeological Unit within the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Body Recovery Team made the discovery during excavations, after being alerted to human bones on the surface of peatland in Bellaghy in October 2023. 

The excavations first uncovered a tibia and fibula and 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. About five metres south of the surface remains, the bones of a lower left arm and a left femur were located protruding from the ground. 

Further examination of the area between the main body and the surface remains located additional finger bones, fingernails, part of the left femur and the breastbone. 

A post mortem was carried out by a certified forensic anthropologist and determined that the individual was possibly a male aged between 13-17 years old at the time of death. 

Whilst little is known so far about the individual’s cause of death, unlike some other ‘bog bodies’ the individual’s skeleton was well preserved and also had the presence of partial skin, fingernails of the left hand, toenails and possibly a kidney. 

This excavation is one of many investigations carried out by the dedicated Body Recovery Team within the Police Service. The dedicated unit is led by an officer experienced in field archaeology, and staffed with officers trained in the fundamental skills of forensic archaeology and bone identification. 

The team have previously assisted in recovering and examining human remains, including recovering those of missing persons up to almost three decades after the individuals went missing. 

National Museums NI, as the organisation with statutory responsibilities for acquiring and preserving archaeological finds from our past, has been engaged to ensure the proper care of the remains.