Iron Age 'bog bodies' unveiled

[PsychoDad]

Iron Age 'bog bodies' unveiled

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4589638.stm

Archaeologists have unveiled two Iron Age "bog bodies" which were found in the Republic of Ireland.
The bodies, which are both male and have been dated to more than 2,000 years ago, probably belong to the victims of a ritual sacrifice.

In common with other bog bodies, they show signs of having been tortured before their deaths.
...

Although the police were initially called in, an inspection by the state pathologist confirmed that this was an archaeological case.

...
Clonycavan man was a young male no more than 5ft 2in tall. Beneath his hair, which retains its unusual "raised" style, was a massive wound caused by heavy cutting object that smashed open his skull.

Chemical analysis of the hair showed that Clonycavan man's diet was rich in vegetables in the months leading up to his death, suggesting he died in summer.

[benburch]

1. Wouldn't this have been better placed in the science forum? nt

[SmokingJacket]

2. My favorite bit: he used hair gel.

I wonder what evidence they have that these were ritual sacrifices rather than, say, executions.

[Boojatta]

11. Is it possible that there are two justice systems in the USA, one public

and one that is secret but controlled by the government?

Is it possible that Jimmy Hoffa was tried, found guilty, and then executed by the secret justice system in the USA?

[Botany]

3. I bet you they died because of Irish Cooking

[LiberalEsto]

5. Gaaaaah. What IS that?

Looks like leftovers from an autopsy.

[shrike]

8. I have a recipe for Dublin Coddle

And I keep threatening to make it.

[greyl]

10. Yeah, looks like somebody already it.

According to the source of the picture, it's some kind of Final Oatmeal. :)

[greyl]

12. already ATE it. damn. nt

[shrike]

4. They've found bog bodies before

Just not as old as this find. I've seen pictures of them and it's quite eerie -- they're so well-preserved.

Husband thinks this proves there were serial killers even back then -- what better place to hide the body than the bogs.

[Jackpine Radical]

6. For example, Tollund Man in Denmark.

I think the Danish bog finds were at least as old as the new Irish discoveries. Something on the order of 2000-2500 years.

[shrike]

7. No kidding

Wow. I don't recall where these particular bodies were found or how old they were. We get Discover magazine and the article a few years ago described the find in detail. As I've said, the photographs were eerie.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

9. They're incredibly well preserved and look like

sleeping people who've been...varnished.