Gardaí - the Irish Police - got much more than they expected when they recovered goods stolen in a burglary in Strokestown, Co Roscommon. Nestling in the haul - discovered during a Garda search at a property in Dublin - was a gold lunula and two gold sun discs. The discovery of the previously unrecorded gold artefacts was described as 'highly important' by the National Museum of Ireland.
     The lunula is a crescent-shaped ornament worn around the neck or chest area on ceremonial occasions. The museum believes less than 200 such lunulae are known to have been made by a small number of master craftsmen. The two gold discs are similar in size to a small saucer. Museum director Dr Patrick Wallace said the items would have been in use on ceremonial occasions in about 2000-1900 BCE. "I would consider this to be a very important discovery," he said.
     Gardaí from the Longford-Roscommon division said the discovery followed an extensive investigation into the break-in at a pharmacy in Strokestown. It is understood that the objects were contained in a safe containing drugs, cosmetics and antique jewellery. Gardaí contacted the National Museum of Ireland when they saw the three artefacts. Two archaeologists from the museum have been working with gardaí in Roscommon in recent days in an attempt to put the items in context. Pharmacist Sunniva Sheehan said she had seen the items in the 1950s when her late father had shown them to her. Ms Sheehan had also seen them in the 1960s after her father died when she showed them to her sister. They had remained in her father's safem, she said.
     Under the Irish National Monuments Act, any artefacts discovered should be surrendered to the State through the National Museum of Ireland. The items are to be brought to the National Museum of Ireland. Two men were arrested on April 1st in connection with the burglary.

Sources: The Irish Times, Independent.ie (8 April 2009)