BRONZE AGE SKELETON

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 199, 6 August 1928, Page 6

BRONZE AGE SKELETON

DISCOVERED IN IRELAND ABOUT 3,000 YEARS OLD A find of groat historic interest was recently made at Moyvilla. four miles from Athenry, in Ireland, where a human skeleton, believed to be 3,000 years old, has been recovered from an ancient grave. The remarkable state of preservation of the skeleton is due to the chalky soil and to the arrangement of slabs which have kept the grave dry. The grave is on the old battlefield of Turlough Art, so called because Art. an Irish monarch, was killed there while defending his country against the foreigners of Britain. Thirty years ago the uncle of the present owner of the field, in ploughing, discovered an ancient grave, but did not disturb it. Professor Mahr, Keeper of the Antiquities of the National Museum, has now inspected the find. The grave contained the bones of a person about 20 years of age. The skull, it is stated, points to a high racial index and an intellectual capacity and facial lineament of a very high standard

It is thought that the skeleton is of one who lived in the middle Bronze Age, between 2,000 B.C. and 400 B.C. Dr. Mahr photographed the skeleton in its undisturbed position. The body, which is about five feet in height was lying with the knees drawn up towards the head and the feet drawn back against the thighs. The urn placed at the foot of the grave was beautifully shaped and ornamented with chevron designs. With the exception of a small hole in the top of the skull, the skeleton is in such a perfect state of preservation as to permit reconstruction. The sex has not been determined definitely. A doctor states that he has never seen a more beautifully formed lowei jaw. Dr. Mahr is enthusiastic in his praise of ths beautiful shape of the skull.