**Police Confirm Mystery Bone Found in Welsh Recycling Centre Is Centuries Old**
Authorities in North Wales have released further details following the discovery of a bone at a recycling centre in Caernarfon. The investigation, launched last year after the bone was uncovered at the Gwynedd Skip and Plant Hire site on the Cibyn Industrial Estate, has now come to an official conclusion.
The bone, discovered during routine operations at the site, initially sparked concerns regarding its origin and whether it may be linked to any recent missing persons cases. North Wales Police responded swiftly, cordoning off the area and beginning a detailed forensic examination.
Experts were called in to carry out comprehensive testing on the item. The initial priority for detectives was to ascertain whether the bone was human and, if so, its potential historical or criminal significance. The bone was subsequently sent away for both DNA analysis and carbon dating to provide clarification.
Confirmation arrived this week from North Wales Police, who verified that forensic and archaeological examination indicated the bone was of human origin. In the next phase of the enquiry, carbon dating revealed date ranges extending back several centuries.
According to official police statements, tests dated the bone to two possible periods: 1690-1731 AD and 1805-1942 AD. Despite the relatively broad span of these ranges, both lie well outside the scope of any modern missing persons’ inquiries. Detectives have, as a result, concluded that there is no evidence to suggest recent criminal activity in connection with the bone.
A spokesperson for North Wales Police commented: “DNA testing and carbon dating have confirmed the bone to be human. However, our results indicate it could be several decades to centuries old, covering the periods from the late 17th century to as recent as the mid-20th century. For that reason, our investigation is now closed as there is no current link to ongoing missing persons cases.”
Local residents in Caernarfon reacted with a mixture of relief and curiosity at the news, with many expressing intrigue over the historical context of the find. The origins of the individual and the circumstances under which the bone ended up at the modern industrial estate remain a matter of speculation.
It is not unusual for human remains of considerable age to surface in areas with rich and complex histories such as Gwynedd. Caernarfon itself has seen significant development over centuries, and its proximity to ancient settlements and sites may have contributed to the unexpected appearance of the bone.
While the initial find prompted urgency and concern, especially for local families with missing loved ones, officials hope the latest update will provide assurance that there is no ongoing risk or mystery requiring further police resources. Archaeologists, meanwhile, suggest such discoveries offer valuable, if sometimes mysterious, insights into the region’s social and historical fabric.
With the police investigation now complete, experts say it is possible that researchers may look at the bone in greater historical detail in the future. For now, though, the case is officially closed, bringing to an end the intrigue that briefly gripped this North Wales community.