An approximately 2,000-year-old bog body, initially dubbed Bellaghy Boy, has now been identified as a young female, aged between 17 and 22, following new expert analysis. Now known as Ballymacombs More Woman, she remains the focus of ongoing research, which aims to uncover more about her life and death.
New analysis of ancient human remains discovered in bogland in Co. Derry has revealed that what was initially thought to be a teenage boy is, in fact, probably a female, aged between 17 and 22, who had been decapitated.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
The bog body was found in October 2023 on land owned by the Department of Agriculture in the townland of Ballymacombs More, near Bellaghy village. The remains were first spotted by workers engaged in commercial peat extraction.
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Bog body analysis
An initial investigation was carried out by the Archaeological Unit of the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s (PSNI) Body Recovery Team, and a postmortem examination was performed by a certified forensic anthropologist. The remains were remarkably well preserved. Though partially skeletonized, large areas of soft tissue have survived, along with some skin, fingernails, toenails and a kidney.
Further research, led by National Museums NI in collaboration with Queen’s University Belfast, along with other archaeological and forensic experts across Europe, has provided new insights into the ancient bog-preserved remains. The year-long study also involved researchers from the National Museum of Ireland, Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, the University of Copenhagen, the University of Glasgow and the University of Bradford, alongside the PSNI.
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Radiocarbon dating suggests that the remains date to between approximately 343 BC and 1 BC, placing them firmly within the Iron Age. Osteoarchaeological analysis has now revealed that the individual was female, a significant discovery given that most bog bodies from this period are male.
Following the typical naming convention used for similar discoveries – the townland where remains are found paired with the individual’s sex – the bog body is now being referred to as the “Ballymacombs More Woman”.
Violent death
Ballymacombs More Woman stood at an estimated height of 5ft 6in (1.7m). Her skull was missing and has not been recovered. Cut marks on the neck vertebrae indicate she was intentionally decapitated in the bog, likely as part of a sacrificial killing – a fate seemingly consistent with ritual practices during the Iron Age period in northwest Europe and Ireland.
>>> READ MORE: Irish Iron Age bog body “Clonycavan Man” wore exotic hair gel
Expert analysis
Professor Eileen Murphy from Queen’s University Belfast carried out the osteological assessment, developed a biological profile for the individual and determined the cause of death. She explains:
“It was a privilege to undertake the osteological analysis of these important, but also very poignant, archaeological human remains.
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.”
A F F I L I A T E A D
Woven artefact
A woven plant-based item was found below the knees, believed to be part of an associated artefact. Specialists are now working to determine its purpose.
Final phase of preservation treatment
The ancient human remains and woven item were transferred from the State Pathology Laboratory to National Museums NI, where conservation specialists are closely monitoring them ahead of a final phase of preservation treatment.
The BBC reported that further research would be conducted on the remains to uncover more details about how people lived during the Iron Age. This research could provide insights into the individual’s diet and movements, possibly helping to determine her identity and potentially the population to which she belonged.
The BBC further reported that the remains are unlikely to go on public display in the Ulster Museum. Museums must carefully consider how to ethically treat human remains, particularly given the distressing nature of this individual’s death by decapitation. Instead, the museum plans to create a display that helps the public understand the discovery and tells the young woman’s story, possibly using artist’s impressions of her when alive.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Environmental conditions
Professor Gill Plunkett, from Queen’s University, examined the peat at the burial site to reconstruct the environmental conditions at the time of death. She said:
“Peat is composed of partly decomposed bog plant remains. We have studied what plants are preserved within the peat, including a sample of peat stuck to the woven item that was under the body. We can tell that the body was placed onto a mossy surface and not into a pool as other bog bodies were.
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Unfortunately, the peat above the body was removed by peat harvesting, so we don’t know if the woman’s remains were covered or not, but she can’t have lain exposed for very long or her remains would not have been preserved.”
Role of National Museums NI
Niamh Baker, Curator of Archaeology at National Museums NI, described Ballymacombs More Woman as one of the most important archaeological discoveries on the island of Ireland and added:
“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.
As the organization 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.”
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Hannah Crowdy, Head of Curatorial at National Museums NI, commented:
“The successful delivery of this cross-disciplinary research is 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.
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.”
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Symposium
Today, Saturday, 22 February, National Museums NI and Queen’s University are participating in a symposium at the Seamus Heaney HomePlace: “Digging Into Bog: Archaeological Finds and the Work of Seamus Heaney”. It marks the 50th anniversary of Heaney’s North collection and will feature experts discussing Ballymacombs More Woman, the significance of bog bodies across Europe and Heaney’s fascination with ancient remains.
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