Mysteries Of Bog Butter Uncovered (NOTICE: Some photos may be disturbing)

Nature ^ | 3-17-2004 | Philip Ball

[blam]

Tollund Man (A bog person)

[blam]

Bodies Of The Bogs

[Alter Kaker]

That is a dead, murdered man. Very disrespectful to post photograph.

[Consort]

[NewRomeTacitus]

Q:Between this and haggis, why are there still Scots?

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Q:Between this and haggis, why are there still Scots?

Because they will eat anything while the prissy people starve? :)

[NewRomeTacitus]

A:No. Because "if it's not Scottish it's CRAP!" - Mike Myers as All Things Scottish store owner.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

If Mona Lisa's Mother were Jewish, she'd have said: "After all that money your father and I spent on braces, that's the biggest smile you can give us?"

[tet68]

In a new scientific breakthrough, researchers at the
AlGore Institute today announced the first formulation
of Oleo-bog butter.
Made entirely from old butterfly ballots, buried in a bog
for 4 years, the new product tentatively named Gorlestra
is touted as a "Healthful, savory, intelligent alternative
to heavy, convoluted and fattening republican thinking."

Presidential Candidate John F'n. Kerry today endorsed
the product saying, "If we'd had this in Viet nam the war would have been as good as won, heck if we'd had this in
Florida in 2001 I'd still be running for President today!"

Candidate Kerry, then proceeded to polish of a good half a
kilo of Gorlestra before going out to hit the slopes.
"Damn halfwits better get out of my way this time, I sure
can't afford to end up like Sonny or that other Kennedy."

[afraidfortherepublic]

Windeby Girl looks like Doris Kearns Goodwin.

[alloysteel]

That is a dead, murdered man. Very disrespectful to post photograph.

Yes to both. But in the interests of forensic science, the question arises, why was he murdered, and how did he come to be buried in the bog?

The corpse is perhaps from some period that predates the Christian era, well over two thousand years ago. The perpetrator of this act is long gone and disappeared into prehistory. This would have occurred about the time the Druids were a major religion of northern Europe and the British Isles, and the death could have been part of a purification ritual, or a summary execution. Burial in the bog could have been intentional in the interest of concealing the grave from marauders, or to hide it from relatives if this were an execution.

The body is in an extraordinary state of preservation, although there are no longer any skeletal bones left. The calcium and phosphate dissolved long ago, leaving only the preserved cartilaginous protein in the bone. The skin and internal organs would have been preserved in the organic acids (largely tannic acid) that filled the bog, and protected the remaining elements from oxidation. So long as the bog remained moist, the undisturbed site was anaerobic, and the highly acidic conditions prevent the growth of any bacteria that may have otherwise consumed the body.

A most excellent specimen for a forensic pathologist to work with. You should SEE what shows up in a morgue.

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[livius]

You should SEE what shows up in a morgue.

Actually, I'd rather not.

Makes the "bog person" look like a department store mannequin, I imagine.

[solitas]

Go, you: ask his family if they mind his picture being posted. :)

[CurlyDave]

From reading the links, and looking at the rope around the neck, it is highly probably that it was an executed man rather than a murdered one.

This is a significant difference, unless you want to deny the society of the time the right to a death penalty while preserving our society's right to the same.

[NewRomeTacitus]

"That is a dead, murdered man. Very disrespectful to post photograph."

That's the second time I've seen this admonition. In our age of forensic science culling out murderers with the aid of information technology I tend toward the belief that tormented souls would be comforted if they could know succeeding generations are still striving to find them justice.

[blam]

Koelbjerg Woman, whose skull is shown here, is the oldest bog body known. We do not know how she met her end, as her bones show no sign of violence. She was, at most, 25 when she died around 8000 B.C. Her body ended up in open water, and the bones were not incorporated in peat until later. She may have simply drowned. (Fyns Stifsmuseum of Denmark, Odense)

[solitas]

I believe Billy Connolly did a routine along the same line. :)

[ApplegateRanch]

Excellent explanation.

I might add, no one seems to mind when pictures of mummies, whether Old or New World, are shown; and also that Ötzi was quite possibly murdered.

As to morgues, I have seen a few, both before & after they got there. Gratefully, ONLY a few.