Ancient Skeletal remains found in Swords Park

Fingal County Council have acted quickly to secure the site where historical skeletal remains were discovered in a Swords park on Monday evening.

Locals out walking in River Valley Park, Swords were amazed to see the exposed remains on the banks of the Ward River. An Garda Síochána were alerted but following an examination by a forensic anthropologist the remains were confirmed as ancient and the focus shifted to the protection of the site until further investigations could take place.

Christine Baker Fingal County Council Archaeologist inspected the site on Tuesday morning along with archaeologists from the National Museum of Ireland. Due to the present COVID-19 directives the site cannot be excavated and has been secured until such time as this is possible. The National Monuments Service of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and the National Museum of Ireland will advise and support. 

There were some concerns with regard to a lack of Social Distancing as passers-by stopped to look at the site, and Fingal County Council reminds people of the importance of following Government guidelines and Public Health advice in relation to this at all times.

Christine Baker, Fingal Heritage Officer commenting on the discovery said:

The site where the remains were found is a recorded monument and archaeologists from the National Monuments Service excavated six skeletons there in 1999. These were medieval in date and now riverbank erosion has caused another skeleton to be exposed. These remains and the site have the potential to provide valuable insights for archaeologists and historians when a full study can be done. 

Ms. Baker is well aware of the wealth of archaeological remains which lie beneath the open spaces of our housing estates and public parks.  In 2019 she conducted the  “What Lies Beneath: Fingal Geophysical Survey Project” with the local community to help discover the sub-surface remains in Fingal parks and also raise awareness of archaeological sites of interest. She has also directed community archaeology excavations at Swords Castle, Bremore Castle, Naul and the Drumanagh Promontory Fort.

The site has been secured by Fingal County Council Operations team.