Archaeologists May Have Found a 200-year-old Skeleton Belonged to a Shipwrecked Sailor in Cornwall

A startling bone remains of a mysterious man, who is believed to be a sailor who perished in a shipwreck about 200 years ago, was recently discovered on Cornwall's north shore, reported first by Express.

A member of the public called the attention of the Strategic Historic Environment team at Cornwall Council about a finding of skeletal human remains close to Trevone, which has a view of Newtrain Bay and is close to Padstow.

However, it is worth noting that the area was not regarded as a crime scene because detectives and forensic investigators confirmed that the remains were historical.

Shipwrecked Sailor From 200 Years Ago

With assistance from the person who first reported the remains and officers from Cornwall Council, the Ministry of Justice granted permission to excavate the remains. A bone specialist from Cornwall Archaeological Unit was tasked to take the bones away from the coast.

The experts eventually concluded that the bones were historic, possibly from the 18th or 19th century, and they were turned over to the Cornwall Council.

Cornwall Live reports that such remains are frequently discovered along the Cornish shore, especially on the north coast after harsh weather and cliff falls. In this instance, the footpath's persistent wear had exposed the remains.

According to experts, the deterioration of the bones from the 18th or 19th century may indicate heavy labor, tugging, pushing, and lifting.

The bones were of an adult, cut off just above the knees, possibly by the creation of an adjacent hedge, according to Ann Reynolds of Cornwall Council's rural historic environment team.

"Given the location of the remains on the cliff and near the notoriously dangerous approach to Padstow Harbour, it is possible that they are of a shipwrecked sailor, and if so, potentially date to before 1808, after which the Grylls Act decreed that drowned remains washed ashore should be buried in consecrated ground," Reynolds said in a statement.

Shrouded in Mystery

Councillor Martyn Alvey, the portfolio holder for environment and climate change at Cornwall Council, expressed his gratitude to everyone who took part in the excavation and hopes they can discover more about this person before properly burying them.

The bone remnants remain shrouded in mystery, but the experts will conduct further investigation to learn more about this person's origins before giving them a proper reburial.