the lower leg bones remained in the grave; but the upper part of the body was entangled in the tree roots and raised up into the air. Analysis of the skeletal remains is currently underway.
More details were revealed in an interview with CBC Radio. Archaeologist Marion Dowd, who is the Director of Sligo-Leitrim Archaeological Services, explained that “the excavation we did was a rescue excavation, so our goal was to go in there and recover the remains before further damaged was caused.”
She added the young man was 5 feet 10 inches in height, which would have been very tall for this period. It indicates that he may have come from a Gaelic family with relatively good social status. Meanwhile the archaeologists are hoping to do more research in this area, to determine if this was an isolated grave or part of a large graveyard.
The skeletal remains will go the National Museum of Ireland.
Fifty Medieval Skeletons discovered in Lichfield
Warwickshire County Council has reported the discovery of 50 skeletons on the site of the former St Johns' Hospital in Lichfield, Staffordshire. Archaeologists believe that this was a burial ground connected to a medieval pilgrimage site.
Last month developers uncovered rows of medieval burials and called in Archaeology Warwickshire to carry out an emergency excavation on the site.
Stuart Palmer, business manager for Archaeology Warwickshire, said: “The site of the excavation was a well-known site of pilgrimage in medieval times with pilgrims travelling from around the medieval world to be close to the remains of St Chad who was interred at the current site of Lichfield Cathedral.
“St John’s in medieval Lichfield provided overnight accommodation for pilgrims for several hundred years and that many of the pilgrims visiting came to be healed and some may well have died, which carries the possibility that this burial ground was for these unfortunate pilgrims.
“Although medieval burial sites are not uncommon in the UK, those associated with known sites of pilgrimage are not so common and this work presents a rare opportunity to study such a particular assemblage.
“The remains are currently being processed at our offices in Montague Road and, once cleaned, will be aged and sexed and examined for signs of injury, disease, dietary deficiency and other pathologies. These tests can often reveal fascinating aspects of life, medical practise and life expectancy in medieval populations. This could provide us with a truly fascinating window into the past.
“At Archaeology Warwickshire, we are committed to inspiring future generations of archaeologists and we regularly provide training places for volunteers and students to come and work with us. Over the coming months, some lucky participants may well have opportunity to help us investigate this fascinating find.”