Micheal Boyle, a farmer from County Donegal, Ireland, stumbled upon an extraordinary archaeological find on his land – a nearly 60-pound slab of ancient bog butter. This remarkable discovery is considered one of the largest of its kind in Ireland.

Boyle was working on his farm when he noticed a strange object protruding from the ground, emitting a strong “cheesy smell.” As he excavated the area, he uncovered the massive slab of bog butter.

In ancient times, dairy or animal fat was buried in bogs or stored in wooden containers for preservation or as offerings to gods and spirits. The bog butter found on Boyle’s farm had a small piece of wood attached, indicating it once lay in a decomposed wooden container.

With approximately 500 bog butter discoveries recorded in Ireland, this find stands out due to its enormous size – weighing between 48-55 pounds. Archaeologist Paula Harvey described it as “one of the biggest chunks of bog butter found in Ireland to date.”

Boyle credited the discovery to “pure luck,” saying, “I had seen something about a foot in the ground, and was quickly encompassed with a ‘cheesy smell.’ Right away, I knew what I had discovered.”

Historians believe the bog butter dates back to the Bronze Age, although further research is being conducted at the National Museum of Ireland.

Harvey emphasized the significance of the find for the local community: “The slab of butter wouldn’t mean anything to anybody visiting a national institution, but it certainly would mean an awful lot to the local community here in southwest Donegal.”

The bog butter will undergo analysis and is expected to be displayed at the Kilclooney Dolmen Centre, providing a unique opportunity for locals to connect with their heritage.