Posted on 06/12/2016 5:52:50 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
A prehistoric 10 kilo lump of bog butter thought to have been a gift to the gods has been found by turf cutters.
The creamy white dairy product, which smells like a strong cheese and is believed to be about 2,000 years old, was unearthed by Jack Conway, from Maghera, Co Cavan, while he worked on Emlagh bog in Co Meath last week.
The find, while not unusual, has been given to the National Museum where it will be preserved.
Andy Halpin, assistant keeper in the museum's Irish Antiquities Division, said the discovery was significant because it was found in the Drakerath area where 11 townlands and the boundaries of three ancient baronies met...
Bog butter was often buried to preserve it to be dug up at a later date. Other research has shed light on it being buried as an offering to the gods or spirits in the hope of renewed prosperity.
Mr Halpin said the Emlagh discovery, 12 feet below the surface, may never have been intended to be unearthed as there was no evidence of a cover on it.
Finds are common in Ireland and Scotland and the product, which appears as a waxy substance, was often put in a wooden casket or animal hide first.
Turf cutter Mr Conway reported the find to Cavan County Museum before it was handed over to the National Museum where it will be carbon dated.
Top chef Kevin Thornton revealed he had tasted bog butter but archaeology experts are reluctant describing it as crumbly and with an odorous and distinctive smell like strong cheese.
"Theoretically the stuff is still edible but we wouldn't say it's advisable," Mr Halpin said.
(Excerpt) Read more at belfasttelegraph.co.uk ...
Funny. I understand that’s similarly the purpose of aquavit when dining in Scandinavia on delicacies that persist mostly as dares.
I wonder if there are any probiotic cultures in it that might be of any value today?
oooh good one!
I’m pretty sure Islam is antibiotic in the macro sense, and the muzzie thugs will burn down the house of anyone suspected of having aquavit.
Not if we send them back where they came from so they can go back to burning down each other’s houses.
Would unhomoginzed and unpasteurized butter have DNA from the cows in it?
Oh, for Peat’s sake...
Good idea, pretty sure it might... that’s a pretty old sample though... the carbon ratios (12/13) are what is used to ballpark whether it’s meat or milk.
Is it something like Vegemite?
If this stuff is edible it may be the ultimate survival food. Anything that lasts for 2000 years must be good stuff.
The reason I’m wondering is that there’s a fair sized group of farmers and ranchers that are interested in heritage livestock.
Will Michelle Obama demand it be added to the school lunch program?
i bet the boys over at Wreckless Eating would eat it... with special guest PhilaDehlia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_idR_cvZrc&index=47&list=PL01DCEA6B4493B3AE
Maybe that’s the secret to Philly cream cheese...
Sounds too nutritious for that...
Akavit- caraway flavored paint thinner. Burns with a lovely blue flame, though.
CC
That's hilarious, I'd forgotten those old TV commercials.
Can't say as I've ever heard of bog butter before today, but I never fail to learn something clicking on a Sunken Civ thread.
you may be onto something there... she does look soft and creamy
Chuck Norris CAN Believe it's Not Bog Butter !
Let’s not tell him about the bogs and bog butter!
Years ago someone made the mistake of telling Chuck Norris about the Sahara forest.
Nicely done!
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