Ancient Human Remains Bog Bodies

What is a bog?

How are bog bodies preserved? Normally bodies preserved in water would decompose rapidly. However, in a typical peat bog there is little or no oxygen in the water for chemical processes of decay to take place. Bogs consist of 2 layers: A watery top layer A thick layer of peat. The chemical content of bogs is also vital to the preservation of human and other organic material - SPAHGNAN Scientists believe that muscle, tissue and wooden artefacts survive because of sphagnan – this is a substance found in the cell walls of the moss that prevents destructive bacteria operating This also contributes to the tanning of the bodies, which is why bog bodies are usually very dark in colour. The sphagnan turns the skin into leather.

How are they still in place? The peat layer remains constant, undisturbed by any outside changes in the environment. This means that any archaeological material can remain undisturbed for hundreds of years. Some bodies are merely skeletons with no soft tissue. Others gave no bones by have soft tissue and tanned skin.

Famous Bog Bodies FIGURE 10.4 The Osterby skull, showing the distinctive hair knot worn by this bog body FIGURE 10.5 The preserved body of Tollund Man on display in the Silkeborg Museum, Denmark. His cap and the noose around his neck can clearly be seen.

Girl, showing her blindfold and shaved head. FIGURE 10.6 Windeby Girl, showing her blindfold and shaved head. FIGURE 10.7 The face of Grauballe Man

1. Using Table 10. 1 and Figures 10. 4 – 10 1. Using Table 10.1 and Figures 10.4 – 10.7, answer the following questions: a. In which country have most of the bodies been found? b. When did these people live? c. What appears to have been the main cause of death? d. What do the stomach contents reveal? e. What items of clothing or adornment have been found? 2. From the study of Table 10.1, list the features that the bodies have in common. 3. From the explanations given here, suggest possible explanations for their deaths.

Discovery Lindow Man (scientific name Lindow II) was discovered on 1st August in 1984 in a peat Moss in Cheshire England. 2 workmen found a foot in a piece of machinery. Peat is burnt for fuel and so it is harvested in England. The torso of the body was revealed in the peat that was waiting to be cut. The police were called, as well as an archaeologist, who soon established that it was part of an ancient bog body. In 1988, more parts of what are now considered to be Lindow Man’s body were discovered: the skin of the buttocks, part of the left leg, and both the right thigh and femur.

Face squashed by the weight of the peat

Visual examination A simple visual examination by the investigators revealed the Lindow Man: Was about 25 – 30 years of age Was about 1.68m tall He was muscular and at the peak of physical condition He had brown to ginger hair, a moustache and a beard of similar colour which were neatly trimmed. His hands were manicured and well cared for – so he apparently did no physical work. His neck and torso bore the mark of stab wounds.

Scientific examination Scientific technique Information revealed Scanning electron microscopy Uses an electron microscope that produces high resolution, 3D images His beard and moustache had ‘stepped’ ends. This indicated that they had been trimmed with fine shears or scissors rather than with a single knife or razor blade. His stomach contained sphagnum moss spores, crushed wheat, bran and barley grains; and mistletoe pollen. Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy Examines changes in molecular structure to determine exposure to heat He had eaten burnt griddlecake before he died. Atomic absorption spectrometry Determines the composition of elements in a sample His torso skin had a higher copper content than other skin samples suggesting that copper pigments might have been applied as body paint Radiocarbon dating 2BC-AD119

What did he look like? Forensic science has helped to reconstruct a picture of what Lindow Man would have looked like. Medical illustrator Richard Neave used templates made from x-rays of the skull. He then sculpted a skull from clay over these templates.

How did Lindow Man die? Forensic analysis has revealed the particularly horrific manner of Lindow Man’s death. His death resulted from: 2 or 3 blows, possibly from a blunt instrument that fractured the skull. Strangulation or garrotting with a thong made of animal sinew A cut throat, perhaps not to kills him but to drain the body of blood. A possible stab wound to the upper chest.

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