THE gruesome mystery of a 2,000-year-old headless woman found in an Irish bog has finally been uncovered by scientists.
Evidence suggests the Ballymacombs More Woman “suffered a highly violent death.”
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Following the discovery of ancient remains in a bogland near Bellaghy in October 2023, experts have been piecing together who this woman once was.
Several museums and universities have now unearthed her sex, age, height, and manner of death.
Initially, scientists believed the bones belonged to a 13 to 17-year-old boy.
However, they actually belonged to a 17 to 22-year-old woman.
She was most likely alive during the Iron Age, around 343 BCE to 1 BCE.
Eileen Murphy, an archaeologist at Queen’s University Belfast who studied the body, explained the manner of death in a statement on Thursday.
She said: “As is the case for so many Iron Age bog bodies, the young woman suffered a highly violent death, which involved the flow of blood from her throat followed by decapitation.”
Cut marks were found on the woman’s neck vertebrae that indicated an intentional decapitation in the bog.
This may have been part of a ritual or sacrifice during the Iron Age period.
Although her head has not been recovered, it’s estimated the woman stood at 5ft 6in.
Part of a woven item made of plant material was also recovered from below the knees and is thought to be part of an associated artefact.
Niamh Baker, Curator of Archaeology at National Museums NI, said the Ballymacombs More Woman is “one of the most important archaeological discoveries on the island of Ireland”.
This is because the majority of Iron Age bog bodies discovered in the British Isles have all been male, Niamh added.
She continued: “This important discovery gives us a glimpse into the lives of the people of our ancient past and offers insights into how they lived, interacted with their environment, and developed their cultures.
“As the organisation with statutory responsibility for acquiring, curating and conserving nationally significant archaeological finds in Northern Ireland, we immediately understood how a thorough research process would be required to ensure that this discovery was managed professionally and ethically to unlock her valuable story.”
The study, led by National Museums NI, has involved collaboration with organisations across the UK, Ireland and Europe, including the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), National Museums of Ireland, Queen’s University Belfast, Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, University of Copenhagen, University of Glasgow, and University of Bradford.
IRON AGE DEATHS
Research into Iron Age bog bodies by the National Museum of Ireland has shown human sacrifices were likely connected to sovereignty and kinship rituals.
Speaking to the Irish Examiner in 2011, Ned Kelly, former keeper of antiquities at the National Museum of Ireland, explained that excessively violent killings were likely ordered by kings in hard times.
They happened to ensure that the province remained productive and were probably made to the Celtic goddess of the land.
‘FASCINTATING FINDINGS’
Following the decapitation of the Ballymacombs More Woman, Eileen Murphy explained in her report that “the body was left where it fell only to be discovered by machine workers some 2,000 years later”.
And that the head must have been taken away.
“Further scientific analysis, including the conclusion of an Ancient DNA analysis, will no doubt yield more fascinating findings”, she said.
And added: “It was a privilege to undertake the osteological analysis of these important, but also very poignant, archaeological human remains.”
‘SIGNIFICANT FEAT FOR NORTHERN IRELAND’
Hannah Crowdy, Head of Curatorial at National Museums NI, described the collaboration as a “significant feat for Northern Ireland”.
“It is a brilliant illustration of how relevant our museums are, and the important role we play in connecting our unique heritage, spanning thousands of years, to the present day,” she said.
“We are exceptionally grateful to our partners for their collaboration on this project; we have all learnt from their considerable expertise, which will ensure we have rigorous, scientific records associated with this discovery.
“Our collections are for the public to enjoy and be inspired by, but as the Ballymacombs More Woman demonstrates, they are also a crucial resource for research and learning in a wide array of specialist fields.
“The stories and intrinsic knowledge associated with people from the past may be strange and disturbing to us today but also enlightening, helping us to better understand and reflect upon societal changes over time.
“Our views of the world, and the forces that impact upon us, have changed profoundly over the course of history. As we consider this important archaeological discovery, we should remind ourselves that Ballymacombs More Woman was once a person, just like us.”
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