The
headless body of a well-preserved person was found May 14th by a farmer
near Daingean in County Offaly.
Farmer Kevin Barry was
digging a drain in bog land near his home when he uncovered the body. He
called the police immediately. Though the area was initially treated as a
crime scene, it didn't take long for police to establish that the body was
hundreds of years old--perhaps as many as 2,000 years old.
Few details have been
released about the body. Initial reports indicate the following: Though
headless, the skin on the upper torso was well-preserved (it is unclear if
the body was complete except for the missing head). Preserved clothing was
also recovered, though again accounts do not make clear if the person was
wearing clothing or if clothing was found covering the body. A bracelet
was found on one of the upper arms. And farmer Barry noted to reporters
that the person's fingernails were intact.
The body was taken to the
National Museum in Dublin for study.
