Scientists in Northern Ireland have already called this a unique archaeological discovery.

In Northern Ireland, police discovered human remains in a swamp belonging to an ancient man who may have lived more than 2 thousand years ago.

The archaeological unit of the police body recovery team identified the remains after police were alerted to the presence of bones on the surface of a peat bog near Bellaghy, a village in County Londonderry, Newsweek writes.

Upon initial inspection, police did not determine whether the remains were ancient. “We have begun excavating the body, carrying out a thorough and professional forensic examination,” Detective Inspector Nikki Deehan said in a press release.

Initially, during excavations, many bones were discovered, including those related to the lower leg of the left leg and right arm. Further research revealed several more bones belonging to the same person. For example, the bones of the left arm and left femur were found protruding from the ground several feet south of the surface remains. Archaeologists also discovered additional finger bones and a sternum, as well as other remains.

An autopsy performed by a forensic anthropologist determined that the remains were those of a boy and that he was between 13 and 17 years old at the time of death.

Little is known about how the man died, but unlike some other ancient remains found in the swamps, the skeleton was well preserved, even including parts of skin, fingernails, toenails and possibly kidneys.

“The well-preserved body meant that radiocarbon dating could be used to determine the time of death,” Deehan explained. Radiocarbon dating showed that the person may have died approximately 2000–2500 years ago.

“This is now our only intact Iron Age body in Northern Ireland,” said Alastair Ruffell from Queen’s University Belfast, adding that “this is a truly unique archaeological discovery.”