Child finds human jawbone on West Iceland beach

A human jawbone was found on a family outing in Borgarfjörður last week. A child had picked up the bone to play with it. Police believe it may be connected to a missing persons case from years ago. 

The jawbone has been taken to the state police forensic department where a dentist will be inspecting it. Results are expected as early as today. 

"This is unusual but does occur from time to time," says Jón Ólafsson, chief of West Iceland police. "There are plenty of human remains both at sea and buried in the ground so this could have a very natural explanation."  Police searched the area beneath Mount Hafnarfjall in Borgarfjörður where the jawbone was found, but found no other human bones. 

Álfhildur H. Gunnstseinsdóttir found the jawbone on Friday last week. Speaking to mbl.is she explained that her son had been playing with the jawbone, thinking that it belonged to an animal. When she had a closer look she realised it was not from an animal but from a human being. 

Hafnarfjall mountain near Borgarnes. Photo/ Guðrún Vala Elísdóttir