Bog Bodies

Bog Bodies

“Bog bodies” is a term used to describe preserved human remains found in bogs. These remains are preserved by low oxygen levels, created by a blanket of moss on top of the water. Low temperatures and high acidity levels generate a habitat for preserving human remains. Human remains have been found in Ireland, the U.K., Germany, The Netherlands, Denmark and the U.S. Some remains have been dated as far back as the Iron Age (500 B.C. – A.D. 100).

According to an article in National Geographic by Karen E. Lange, “most bog bodies were interpreted as people in disgrace, supposedly punished with torture, execution, and burial in the bog”. These claims are rushed to be supported due to the awe and mystery surrounding the bodies. According to Lange, forensic investigators from the University of Copenhagen argue “some of the damage once interpreted as torture or mutilation was actually inflicted centuries after death”. New technology, such as CT scans, has provided more accurate insight into bog bodies.

Reports of bog bodies being found surfaced in the 18th century. Bog bodies are typically found by people harvesting peat, a soil used for fuel. Many bodies are ripped apart by the machinery. Recent findings of bog bodies are scarce and research has recently been focused on bodies that have already been found.

“Grauballe Man” was found in Copenhagen in 1952. He died 2,300 years ago. His skin and hair were fully preserved on his body, and his last meal still resting in his gut. Examination of the body showed that he was murdered. Somebody slit his neck and threw him into the bog. The man was also found with a broken leg and a crushed skull. These injuries were once believed to have been caused by torture. Reevaluation of the body shows that the injuries were caused by the pressure of the bog over time.

Bright red hair characterized “Red Franz”, a man found in Germany in 1900. His hair had been dyed red from the effects of the acid in the bog. Researchers...