Story highlights The young man suffered apparent knife wounds to the chest and hand

His death likely resulted from local battle or personal conflict, archaeologist says

(CNN) Nearly 1,000 years ago, a young Gaelic man came to a violent end among the dispersed farmsteads of northwestern Ireland.

This, we know, thanks to a 215-year-old tree and a hearty Irish wind.

That's when an archaeologist hired by Ireland's The young man's remains were discovered tangled in the roots of the tree when it blew over sometime before May near Collooney in County Sligo, Ireland.That's when an archaeologist hired by Ireland's National Monuments Service excavated the remains.

The lower leg bones remained in the grave, but the upper part of the body was tangled up in the roots, according to Marion Dowd of Sligo-Leitrim Archaeological Services.

Lower leg bones were in the grave, but the upper body was tangled up in roots.

Radiocarbon dating suggests the remains date back to the early medieval period, from 1030 to 1200. The man, who appeared to be about 17 to 20 years old, had what seem to be knife injuries to the ribs and hand, Dowd said.

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