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Mystery of Culdaff jawbone
13.02.08
by Simon McGeady, Inishowen Independent
MYSTERY still surrounds the skeletal remains of a
human jawbone found in Cloncha Graveyard, near
Culdaff. The grisly discovery was made last October
by locals who came across the partially covered
jaw-bone on the path that runs around Cloncha
Graveyard. The individual then informed Neil McGrory,
a member of the Culdaff and Cloncha Heritage Group,
who contacted the relevant authorities before
Christmas - but as yet there has been no
investigation. |
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“I reported the find to
the National Monuments Service, who would have
responsibility over Cloncha graveyard as the site is
a national monument. I spoke to the Government
archaeologist responsible for Donegal who said
someone would be coming out to investigate the bone,
but that hasn’t happened yet,” said Mr. McGrory. |
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Because the bone was
found on State property, no-one other than the
Government agency is authorised to investigate the
find, according to the Culdaff businessman who added
that, while he appreciated that that archaeologist
had a busy schedule, the delay in sending someone
out to investigate the Cloncha bone is indicative of
the lack of investment in the Cloncha site.
“Cloncha Graveyard is a national monument, just like
An Grianan, but to me the fact that, to the best of
my knowledge, there has been no investigation is
indicative of the lack of investment at Cloncha. A
sign for the graveyard has been left broken and
there is nothing spent on the upkeep of the site.”
Regarding the bone, Mr. McGrory insisted that the
mystery needed to be cleared up as soon as possible.
“It might be that the bone is some benign remains
that somehow got disturbed, but in the case where
human remains are found you would imagine there
would be an investigation. The jawbone is not
located in the graveyard itself but on a path
nearby, which is unusual. On a basic level it’s
disrespectful to leave the bone where it is.”
Mr. McGrory would not speculate on the story behind
the mystery jawbone but added that until it was
checked out, the speculation would continue.
“Who knows why the bone is not in the burial area?
It could be that the bone dates from the time the
graveyard was in use, about 1700, but if it’s more
recent then it would raise a lot of questions,”
added the restaurant owner.
Mr McGrory added that after any investigation, he
would like to see the jawbone reburied in the
graveyard. |
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