Remains of 10th century woman found

An extremely rare brooch has been discovered along with the remains of a 10th century woman, aged between 25 and 35, during an archaeological excavation at a site near Finglas in north Dublin.

The large, bronze, silver and gold oval brooch has been described by Dr Pat Wallace, director of the National Museum of Ireland, as "very, very rare".

He said it was "the best example of its type we have in Ireland to date".

It is the first find of such a brooch in Ireland since 1902.

"We are very, very fortunate to have found it," said Dr Wallace.

Also found in what the National Museum is describing as a "significant burial" were a long bone comb, a bracelet, ring and other copper alloy instruments.

The brooch, measuring about five centimetres by eight centimetres has been corroded and is almost totally covered in green copper oxide.

Having been partially cleaned, however, silver and gold gilding could be discerned and, according to archaeological staff, it would have been "very brilliant, very dazzling and in your face", when worn by the woman.

Small moulded animal heads also protrude from the surface.

The style is Scandinavian and there is no doubt that it was moulded in Scandinavia, said Dr Wallace. The woman's death is dated at about AD 950.

The question is whether she was herself Scandinavian or an Irish woman "who meant a lot to a Scandinavian man", said Dr Wallace.

Specialists who investigate bone fragments are currently working on the remains on-site in Finglas before they are removed to the National Museum in Kildare Street.

The brooch and the other artefacts will be displayed with the woman's remains in the museum "in and around St Patrick's Day we hope", said Dr Wallace. The brooch will be restored, as far as possible, to its original brilliance.

The discovery was made by archaeologist and site director Mr John Kavanagh last Monday at the site in Patrick's Well, close to a medieval church.

"I noticed a skull sticking out of the ground," he said, and he and his colleagues began to painstakingly clear the earth from the woman's skeletal remains throughout last Monday afternoon and Tuesday. "On Wednesday we saw the brooch."

He said that although he had been involved in the uncovering of hundreds of skeletal remains in his career, this, combined with the rare brooch "was the best of the best". Dr Wallace said he was "astounded and delighted the minute I saw it [the brooch\]".

The excavation is taking place at the site of a planned apartment block.

Excavations are required under planning regulations before building can begin. The woman's skeleton was intact apart from her feet which were removed when pipes were lain in the area.

The closing ditch of a monastery, a number of wells and the defensive ramparts and ditch of the townland of Finglas have also been found.

The Vikings were already well established in Dublin by this stage, said Dr Wallace. Dublin had a population of about 3,000 then.

He said he was pleased at the greater awareness among the public of the importance of archaeology and preserving artefacts. "I do have some concerns that those in local authorities and councils are not as concerned as they should be, however," he added.