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

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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. Detective Inspector Nikki Deehan said: “On initial examination, we couldn’t 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. This approach also ensures that any DNA evidence could be secured for any potential criminal investigation. Ultimately this wasn’t the case in this instance.”

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00:00 [Music]

00:13 The archaeology unit within the body recovery team were alerted to human bones

00:17 on the surface of the peatland here in Balahi.

00:19 At first we couldn't be sure if the remains were ancient or a result of a more recent death,

00:23 so we proceeded to recover the body with full forensic considerations.

00:26 A certified forensic anthropologist carried out a post-mortem which determined the remains were that of an adolescent,

00:32 possibly a male, between the ages of 13 and 17 years.

00:35 Radiocarbon analysis dated the remains to be at approximately 500 BC,

00:40 and unlike some other bog bodies, the individual skeleton was well preserved

00:44 and had the presence of partial skin, fingernails in the left hand, toenails and a kidney.

00:51 This is the first time radiocarbon dating has been used on a bog body in Northern Ireland

00:55 and is the only one to still exist, making this a truly unique archaeological discovery.

01:01 [Music]

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