BRONZE AGE CHIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22713, 28 October 1935, Page 11

BRONZE AGE CHIEF

INQUEST ON REMAINS Although roughly-cremated human remains found at Mullaghneish Mountain, near Londonderry, were estimated to be oyer 3000 years old, an inquest was held on them at Feeny. It was disclosed that this step was taken after the remains had been in Belfast Municipal Museum, the coroner Dr A. ,G. Martin, having served a warrant on the curator for their return. The remains, which are believed to be those of an Irish chieftain of the Bronze Age, were contained in a small bowlshaped urn. This was displayed on the coroner’s table. The urn had been buried in a stone vault-like structure in a bog. Three brothers, named Mullan, mad® the discovery while quarrying on the mountain. After clearing away a cairn they found they had uncovered a small vault. The coroner explained that the urn and remains had been taken to the museum, but he decided, in view of the difficulty of establishing ownership which might arise later, to hold an inquest. • A clay-like substance in the vessel, he , added, was probably remains of food!, intended to sustain the departed spirit.; on its journey. The cremation was, crude, and accounted for fragments of. bones instead of dust. Dr Martin wondered whether it was sacrilege to inter- , fere with the remains, or if these should j be replaced in the vault. | The verdict of the jury was: “Unknown cremated human remains placed I in a food vessel dating back to the latter part of the early half of the Bronze Age, probably SfiOO to 3700 years ago.” The remains were taken to the police ’barracks to await a decision as to ownership. Mrs Mary Brolly, the owner of the land on which the discovery was made, declared afterwards that her father’s people, who had lived there for genera- ■ tions, were called Okane, the present form of the name of the ancient Ocahan Clan. She believed that there were other such graves on her land. A ; similar discovery was made many years v ago. She did not like the idea of - ancient graves being disturbed.