Thread for CFH/BoxingGorilla/Bilbo and any others

[donnydarkoIRL]

I know some of you guys have an infatuation with history and/or tribal warfare etc.
But this is just a project I've been working on that uncovered some of my Celtic heritage and is quite remarkable. If I didn't show you these, you would NOT see them, so don't tell anyone I told you guys!!!

The project was an extension of the N18 road between Oranmore and Gort, in Galway Ireland. The site location is Owen Bristy.
The location of note is beside a stream and apperas to be an old man made land structure.

[donnydarkoIRL]

An investigation was necessitated because all new Civil projects are required by law to be mindful of areas of Archaeological importance.

Upon the arrival of the Archaeologist, the site showed characteristics of a Celtic Burial Site and an Investigation began.

Jerry O' Sullivan the NRA Archaeologist was in charge of proceedings.

[donnydarkoIRL]

(Please note, I'm not in the pictures!)
What was uncovered was not only well preserved it was also a first.

The skeletal remains of a woman from the period AD 600-1000, known in Ireland as the age of Saints and Scholars.
Remarkably she was found to be wearing an iron slave collar.
Slave collars have been found in Crannogs at Lagore Royal Crannog in Meath, but never has one been found on the body of the deceased.

It is believed that most slaves were released just before or after death, but this slave was evidently sent to her grave an oppressed slave.

[donnydarkoIRL]

Finally just a close up of the cranium and of course the iron collar

[Kev]

Cool, you actually been out there working then Donny?

What a horrible world that must have been back then to be a slave, forced to wear an iron collar.

[donnydarkoIRL]

I'm working on the Quantity Surveying team, so I was out on site when it was just greenfields.
When the feedback came back about the discovery the price obviously escalated, but I haven't been on site.
I will visit though as it's only 5-6 miles from my home.