Mystery Oswestry skull 'may have come from elsewhere'

Five months after it was found, officers say they are no nearer unravelling the history of the skull, despite intensive forensic examination.

Shocked members of a pheasant shoot made the discovery on land on Sweeney Mountain last November.

One of the dogs involved in the shoot emerged from woods carrying it in its mouth, sparking a major police operation.

Today West Mercia Police said detailed forensic tests had not provided any answers so far.

"Carbon dating on the skull has proved inconclusive," said spokesman Richard Ewels.

"Further scientific tests are now being carried out to help determine its age but there is no guarantee of being able to establish a precise date."

He said that despite a thorough search, no other bones had been found in the area on the Sweeney Estate.

"The skull is thought to be that of an adult male and may have been brought to this location from elsewhere," he said.

An area at Sweeney Mountain was cordoned off after the discovery was made by the beaters who were working for the estate's pheasant shoot.

At the time, shoot captain Charles Roberts said that as the shoot went into the afternoon, a couple of birds were hit and fell into the woodland.

The party entered to retrieve the game, but instead of bringing back a bird, one of the dogs emerged from the wood with bones, possibly part of a skull.

"We don't know what they were really but it was suspicious enough that we informed the police," he said.

He said whatever the bones were, they must have been out in the open rather than buried.

"The dogs are trained only to retrieve game, they don't go digging," he said.