The grave was discovered during an excavation in the ruins of Newtownstewart Castle in County Tyrone by the government sponsored archaeological team.

Ruairi O'Baoill: not expecting to find a 4,000-year-old grave

Excavation director Ruairi O'Baoill was surprised to make the discovery.

"We were expecting to uncover evidence about life here some 400 years ago, not about death 4,000 years ago," he said.

The remains of two people were found in the grave - described by archaeologists as a "cist".

Cist graves are described as small square pits which are lined with stone slabs and covered by a capstone.

"The burial may be an inhumation or a cremation as both types have been recovered on other Bronze Age sites," said Mr O'Baoill.

Grave 'may not be alone'

Also found in the grave were two bronze pots and the archaeological team believe more graves could be found nearby.

"One possibility we have to consider is that this cist may not be alone," said Mr O'Baoill.