Peat Bog Bodies by Joe

How peat bogs are able to provide scientists with perfectly preserved examples of early humans

INTRODUCTION

Peat bogs in Northwest Europe, specifically those in the United Kingdom and Denmark, present prime conditions for the preservation of human bodies. Scientists can gather a variety of evidence about the lifestyle of the people they find, including diet, cause of death, and travel patterns.

Causes

The chemical makeup of bogs varies due to factors of climate and altitude, and as such some bogs will better preserve the skeleton, while others will preserve the whole corpse. Bogs located near saltwater and in a colder climate, such as those in Denmark, will do an excellent job of preserving flesh, often leading people to believe that they have discovered the body of someone who only recently became deceased. Humic acid, which is released when old peat is released by new peat, is the driving factor behind the preservation, working in a manner that is comparable to that of pickling vegetables.

Importance

Researchers can apply techniques such as carbon dating to learn what time period remains are from if any clothing or accessories have deteriorated, determine cause of death, and from their diet and skeletal structure make connections to the deceased’s peers lifestyles.

Prominent Examples

1.    Tollund Man (Denmark)

    2.    Lindow Man (England)

Question

How can researchers use the natural mummies produced by bogs to deepen their knowledge of past civilizations?

Facts

●   Alfred Dieck is estimated to have catalogued 1,850 bog bodies.

●   Facial reconstruction makes it possible for scientists to better understand how the person whose remains they are studying would have looked.

●   Most bodies were discovered by peat farmers (peat was commonly used for fuel in the last couple of centuries.