An intact set of chain mail thought hundreds of years old discovered in Longford, may only date back to the 1800s.
That's according to the National Museum of Ireland following their forensic examination of the mail armour shirt discovered in a bog at Camlisk Beg near Edgeworthstown in 2017.
It had been thought that the Hauberk could date back hundreds of years to medieval Ireland, making it one of the best preserved items from that period ever discovered.
The mail was given to the team at the Knights and Conquests centre in Granard last year by the owner, who subsequently sent it to the Museum for analysis.
An intensive six month examination of the artifact has been completed by a team in the National Museum of Ireland, with the findings released this week.
The study utilised X-Ray Fluorescence scans, comparisons to examples from the museum's own collection and consultations with experts from the Royal Armouries in the UK and from an Irish expert in medieval armour and weaponry.
It found manganese levels in the artifact were characteristic of 19th century steel manufacture, while the rings and tailoring of the garment were not consistent with medieval mail armour making.
They believe the Hauberk to be a replica from the mid 19th century onward.
General Manager at the Knights and Conquest Centre, Bartle Darcy praised the report from the Museum:
