Skeleton Found in Roots of Old Tree

Earlier this year a storm passed through the sleepy little town of Collooney in County Sligo, Ireland. With it came rain and a particularly powerful gust of wind that knocked over an old beech tree. Passersby spotted what looked like a spine protruding from the mud encrusted roots and upon further inspection were surprised to find a whole human skeleton had been inexplicably buried beneath the 200-year-old Goliath.

Archaeologists working for Sligo-Leitrim Archaeological Services (on behalf of the National Monuments Service) have identified what they believe to be an early medieval-age skeleton that, through the violent circumstances that caused the tree to topple, had been torn in two, the upper half, or abdomen, arms, and head were lodged deep in the roots while the lower half consisting of the legs and feet were still trapped in the densely packed dirt below.

According to archaeologist Marion Dowd, “No other burials are known from the area but historical records do indicate a possible graveyard and church in the vicinity.”

The body was buried in a shallow east-west oriented grave, possibly following ancient Irish customs of cairns, dolmens, and passage graves with their orientation according to astrological directions and events, though radiocarbon analysis indicates that the corpse was laid to rest sometime between 1030 and 1200 AD.

Archaeologists believe the body to be of a young man, in his late teens to early 20’s, who had been killed by extra-normal means; specifically referring to injuries caused to his bone structure that were consistent with sharp weapons, either a knife or a sword, leaving the question: was it an ancient battle or murder that caused his death?