Latest news with #BallymacombsMoreWoman
BBC News
20-02-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Iron Age: Ancient remains of woman may have been sacrificial
Ancient human remains discovered in peatland in County Londonderry in 2023 are now thought to be those of a young woman who died more than two millennia is believed to have been killed as part of an Iron Age ritual or the 2,000 year old remains were initially discovered close to Bellaghy it was thought they could be those of a teenage experts from the Ulster Museum and a number of universities, including Queen's University Belfast (QUB), have carried out further research on the body. The remains, which were discovered in October 2023, are now thought to be those of a young woman aged between 17 and 22 years was about 5ft 6in tall (1.7m).Dating to approximately 343 to 1 BC they are more than 2000 years old, and from the prehistoric period known as the Iron remains will now be called the "Ballymacombs More Woman" after the townland where they were of archaeology at National Museums NI (NMNI), Niamh Baker, told BBC News NI the discovery of the remains was "very significant"."There was evidence of cut marks on the neck vertebrae," she Baker said it showed "that the individual had been intentionally decapitated at the bog".During the discovery in 2023, no skull was recovered with the remains."It was likely that that was taken away at the time, during the Iron Age," Ms Baker added."Perhaps it is part of a pattern of ritual killings and is a pattern of that across North-West Europe and Ireland." QUB professor of archaeology Eileen Murphy carried out an assessment of the said the young woman's fate was not untypical of finds from the era."As is the case for so many Iron Age bog bodies, the young woman suffered a highly violent death which involved the flow of blood from her throat followed by decapitation," she said."The head was taken away, but the body was left where it fell only to be discovered by machine workers some 2,000 years later." Ms Baker said more research would now be carried out on the remains, to provide more clues about how people lived during the Iron Age."We'll hopefully find out information potentially about her diet, potentially about her movement," she said."That will be able to determine information about who she was, perhaps what population she was part of."There's very little evidence that tells us about everyday life during the Iron Age."What has survived are high-quality, prestige artefacts and objects that tell us that during this time there was a social woven fabric, made of plant material, was found with the body and may go on display in the future. 'Treating remains respectfully' Navan Fort in County Armagh is the best known Iron Age settlement in Northern of the remains were released by the PSNI shortly after they were discovered, but they are unlikely to go on public display in the Ulster is because, according to NMNI's head of curatorial, Hannah Crowdy, museums have to "think very carefully" about the human remains they hold and how to treat them respectfully."The nature of death of this individual was that she was decapitated and obviously that means the remains are in a certain condition that might be distressing for people to see," she said."There has to be a really strong argument for displaying them, we would never want to display them for sensational purposes.""We think we can do a really compelling, really interesting display to help people understand the processes and to tell this young woman's story without showing her remains to the public."That could include artist's impressions of how the young woman appeared when she was alive. Hannah Crowdy said conversations were also taking place about Takabuti, the Egyptian mummy, which has been one of the Ulster Museum's best known exhibits for generations."There's lots of complex issues to explore," she said."With Takabuti there's a very active conversation about if and how she's displayed and about her future."The museum has brought together a range of experts from across the UK and Egypt to discuss Takabuti's future."They're helping inform our thinking on this, and we're also talking to our audiences," she Crowdy added there are strong arguments for and against displaying Takabuti. "We're just navigating those at the moment and trying to do as much consultation as we can."
The Independent
20-02-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Secrets of the Bellaghy bog body are finally revealed
Archaeologists have made a significant revision in their understanding of ancient human remains discovered in a County Londonderry bog last year. Initially believed to be those of a teenage boy, the remains, now known as Ballymacombs More Woman, are now thought to belong to a young woman who lived approximately 2,000 years ago. The discovery, made in bogland near Bellaghy in 2023, initially led researchers to believe they had found the remains of a boy aged between 13 and 17. However, further analysis has revealed that the remains are likely those of a woman between 17 and 22 years old at the time of her death. This revelation has been hailed as 'one of the most important archaeological discoveries on the island of Ireland,' underscoring the significance of the find. The ongoing research promises to shed more light on the life and circumstances of this young woman from two millennia ago. The study, led by National Museums NI, has involved collaboration with organisations across the UK, Ireland and Europe, including the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), National Museums of Ireland, Queen's University Belfast, Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, University of Copenhagen, University of Glasgow, and University of Bradford. The remains have been dated to approximately 343 BCE to 1 BCE, during a period known as the Iron Age. Osteoarchaeological analysis has revealed the body to be female, a discovery described as 'all the more significant as the majority of bog preserved individuals that have been found from this period are male'. The individual had an estimated height of around 5ft 6in. While the body was well preserved, the skull was absent and was not recovered. Research found that cut marks on the neck vertebrae indicate the cause of death as an intentional decapitation in the bog, which may be part of a pattern of ritual and sacrifice during the Iron Age period. Part of a woven item made of plant material was also recovered from below the knees and is thought to be part of an associated artefact. The museum is currently working with specialists to identify what this artefact could potentially be and are describing it as a woven plant-based fabric, likely associated with the individual and dating to this period. In line with the naming convention applied to similar discoveries, ie, the townland where remains are found paired with the sex of the individual, the remains are now to be referred to as the Ballymacombs More Woman. Niamh Baker, Curator of Archaeology at National Museums NI, said the Ballymacombs More Woman is 'one of the most important archaeological discoveries on the island of Ireland'. 'This important discovery gives us a glimpse into the lives of the people of our ancient past and offers insights into how they lived, interacted with their environment, and developed their cultures,' she said. 'As the organisation with statutory responsibility for acquiring, curating and conserving nationally significant archaeological finds in Northern Ireland, we immediately understood how a thorough research process would be required to ensure that this discovery was managed professionally and ethically to unlock her valuable story.' Eileen Murphy, Professor of Archaeology at the School of Natural and Built Environment at Queen's, carried out the osteological assessment which provided a biological profile for the individual and ascertained the cause of their death. 'It was a privilege to undertake the osteological analysis of these important, but also very poignant, archaeological human remains,' she said. 'As is the case for so many Iron Age bog bodies, the young woman suffered a highly violent death which involved the flow of blood from her throat followed by decapitation. 'The head was taken away, but the body was left where it fell only to be discovered by machine workers some 2,000 years later. Further scientific analysis, including the conclusion of an aDNA analysis, will no doubt yield more fascinating findings.' The remains and artefact have now been transferred from the State Pathology Laboratory to National Museums NI where they are currently being closely monitored by the conservation team before a final phase of preservation treatment. Hannah Crowdy, Head of Curatorial at National Museums NI, described the collaboration as a 'significant feat for Northern Ireland'. 'It is a brilliant illustration of how relevant our museums are, and the important role we play in connecting our unique heritage, spanning thousands of years, to the present day,' she said. 'We are exceptionally grateful to our partners for their collaboration on this project; we have all learnt from their considerable expertise, which will ensure we have rigorous, scientific records associated with this discovery. 'Our collections are for the public to enjoy and be inspired by, but as the Ballymacombs More Woman demonstrates, they are also a crucial resource for research and learning in a wide array of specialist fields. 'The stories and intrinsic knowledge associated with people from the past may be strange and disturbing to us today but also enlightening, helping us to better understand and reflect upon societal changes over time. 'Our views of the world, and the forces that impact upon us, have changed profoundly over the course of history. As we consider this important archaeological discovery, we should remind ourselves that Ballymacombs More Woman was once a person, just like us.' This Saturday, National Museums NI and Queen's University Belfast will take part in a symposium at the Seamus Heaney HomePlace. The event, titled Digging into the Bog: Archaeological Finds & the Work of Seamus Heaney, will see experts discussing the Ballymacombs More Woman.
