Showing posts with label Bog Body. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bog Body. Show all posts

Friday, May 3, 2024

Meenybradden Woman



On May 3, 1978 turf cutters in Meenybradden Bod near Ardara, Ireland would find the body of a woman. It was found that the remains were of historical means. Her body would be kept in Dublin's city morgue and stayed in a freezer where the body was damaged. In July 1985 the body would be shipped to the British Museum and examined further.

It's believed that the woman was around 25 to 30 years old and died 1050-1410 CE. It is unknown how she died, but she didn't die violently. She was buried about a meter deep into the bog. It was strange that she was wrapped in a cloak dated by textile typology to the 16 to 17th centuries. However, the cloak was not carbon-dated and it's possible that it was from around the time she died. 

SOURCES:

Friday, August 11, 2023

Bunsoh Man




On May 17, 1890, a mummified body was found in a peat bog in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The body now known as Bunsoh Man was discovered by peat workers. He was found around 100 cm below the surface with woolen textile and birch branches on top of the body. It is believed he had died and lived between 560 to 620 CE. It's unknown how he died, but it is thought by some he may have strangled with a type of textile garrote. 

After his body was placed in storage it decomposed greatly. 


SOURCES:

Tuesday, June 20, 2023

The Kinakinelly Man

 In 1952 the body of a man, now known as Kinakinelly Man, was found in a bog in County Galway, Ireland. His remains were found with the bones of a red deer. He was dated to have lived and died between 200–100 BCE.

There is little information on this. 

SOURCES:

Friday, April 14, 2023

Girl of the Uchter Moor

 


In 2000 the body of a teenage girl was found in a bog by a peat cutter in Uchte, Germany. The person was using a backhoe at the time and dismembered the body. Leaving more than 100 body parts to recover. The girl was found to be from the iron age and was called Girl of the Uchter Moor or Moora. 

Her remains were dated to 650 B.C. and she was around 16 to 19-years-old. It's believed that she lived as a laborer and had chronic malnutrition throughout her life, underwent two partial skull fractures, and suffered from different diseases. Due to her malnutrition, she suffered from bone decay and lack of bone growth, and she had a benign tumor in her skull.

Her death is believed to have been accidental. There had not been any violent injuries to her body that would have caused death. It's theorized that she may have been picking bilberries (intoxicating berries) at the time she died. She may have slipped and fallen to her death . She may have also been nude at the time she was mummified. 

SOURCES:

Sunday, March 19, 2023

The Bleivik Man

In 1952 a bog body now known as the Bleivik Man (Bleivik funnet) was found in a bog in Rogaland, Norway about 6 km (3.7 Miles)north of Haugesund. It was discovered by a farmer in a drainage ditch that was around 70 cm (about 2.2 ft). His well-preserved skull, a thigh bone, and an upper arm bone, a later excavation brought out other bones like a rib, two vertebrae, and fragments of another thigh bone. 

It's believed that the man lived and died between 6110 and 5890 BC (mesolithic). It's believed to have been a man between 55 to 60-years-old. From his long bones, it was estimated that he was 160 cm (5'2") at most and had a strong physic as indicated by his muscular attachment marks on the bones.

 No cause of death could be found, but it's possible that he may have drowned in waters that may have been open at the time. The layer of Earth where he was found showed no disturbances suggesting he was not buried, but naturally was there, but gradually covered in sediment. 

There are songs inspired by the Bleivik Man. 

SOURCES:
Wikipedia

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

The Ballgudden Woman and Infant

In 1831 the body of a woman and an infant were found in a bog in Northern Ireland. The woman was determined to have had blonde hair. The infant was skeletonized next to her body. It's unstated or unknown if the bodies were related. The bodies are now either lost or destroyed. 

SOURCES:

Friday, December 2, 2022

Amcotts Moor Woman




In the summer of 1747, a peat digger found a body roughly under 6ft under peat moss near Amcotts, England. His shovel would hit a shoe and when they found it with a foot still inside they fled the scene. The following October S. George Stovin would set out with his team to excavate the remains.

The remains belonged to a woman who lived and died between 200 and 400 A.D. Her body was bent so that her feet and head were close to touching as if a strong current had placed her body there. She was mummified and her hands were described as well-preserved, but they were lost when they were sent for study. Both of her shoes were found, but the one hit with the shovel was damaged. The shoes were described as having a tawny color and being pliable. 

Her remains were buried at the Amcotts church-yard.

SOURCES:
Wikipedia

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

The Aschbroeken Man




In 1931 the body of a man was found in a peat pit  in Drenthe near Weerdinge, Netherlands. The body was well preserved, unfortunately, his skull was lost soon after discovery.  The body was that of a man who lived and died during the bronze age between 1316-928 B.C. He would now be known as the Aschbroeken Man as his identity will never be known.

The man was between 35 and 45-year-old when he died. His bones showed that he had broken his right upper arm once, and the fracture healed wrong. This caused the arm to point slightly outwards. He had growth spurts from around 9 that were likely caused by being ill or malnutrition at the time. 

It's unknown why he ended up in the bog, but his arm may have been the reason. Evidence from other bog bodies in the Netherlands showed that many of them also had some sort of disability. This may have been the reason he ended up in the bog also. 

SOURCES:

Thursday, September 22, 2022

Röst Girl




In 1926 the remains of a toddler, now known as Röst Girl, were found in a bog in the Schleswig-Holstein state of Germany. Because her body was in the bog her body was mummified. She had a woolen cloak over her body. 

Her body is presumed to have been destroyed during WWII. The cloak was however not destroyed and was used for date testing. It's believed that she was alive between 200 B.C.E and 80 C.E. in what is now current Germany. 

SOURCES:

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Bog Bodies: The Clonycavan Man

 



In March of 2003, a body was found in a bog by peat cutters in Clonycavan, County Meath, Ireland . The body belonged to a man between 24 to 40 (believed to be in his 20's) who died between 392 BC to 201 BC. He was 5'2", and had crooked teeth. He had long and styled hair. The front of his hair was shaven, giving him a higher hairline, and the remainder was several inches long which was folded forward and then back, and sported a goatee and mustache. There was hair oil in his hair that consisted of plant oil and pine resins found in France or Spain. He had a rich diet consisting of vegetables, fruits, and protein.

It's believed that he may have been a king that was sacrificed after a bad harvest or another disaster.  His death may have been done to please the goddess of fertility. He was likely killed during the warmer months of the year which was indicated by his diet.

He was killed from a blow to the head with a sharp instrument, possibly an ax, and then was hit in the nose, chest, and was disemboweled. His nipples were may have been sliced off or were missing due to decomposition. If his nipples were sliced off, that would possibly mean that he failed kingship or a failed candidate for kingship.

SOURCES:
BBC News Jan. 7, 2006

Monday, March 7, 2022

Bog Bodies: Frær Mose Woman

 The Frær Mose Woman was found four feet beneath a Denmark bog in 1842. Only her foot, a well-preserved wool garment, and a shoe were found. It's not stated whether or not this was a recent death or historical. There is no time window stated for when she lived and died. 


SOURCES: 

Mummipedia 

Wikipedia

Academic

Liqui Search

Sunday, January 23, 2022

Bog Bodies: Roum Man

In June of 1942, the severed head of a man was found in a bog in Himmerland, Germany. The head belonged to a young man about 20-years-old and the sheepskin wrapped around the head helped date him to the Iron Age. It was initially believed to be a woman's head, but the beard stubble on the dace now makes them believe they were a man. 

SOURCES:

Mummipedia Wiki

Wikipedia

Thursday, November 4, 2021

Bog Bodies: Weerding Men

 



In 1904 two bog bodies were found in Drenthe, Netherlands in the southern part of Bourtange Moor. The two were laid together in the bog initially making people think they were a couple and or related. This would lead to one of the bodies (the smaller one) being thought of being a woman. Leading for them to be called the Weerding Couple, or Mr. and Mrs. Veenstra. Later DNA tests showed that they were both males and were not Maternally related. 

The Weerding Men likely died between 160 BC and 220 AD. One of the men (the better preserved one) was found with a large wound in his chest with his intestines spilled out. It may have been ritualistic and may have been in an attempt to divine the future by reading entrails. It's unknown if this was the way he died or was killed. It's unknown how the other man died. 

SOURCES:

Tuesday, October 12, 2021

The Dröbnitz Girl

 


In 1939 the body of a girl was found in a bog in Dröbnitzer Moor, Dröbnitz (Drwęck) Poland. In an attempt to recover the mummy both of her legs were removed at the hips and were left in the bog. The mummy was well preserved and with x-rays, it was determined all internal organs were recognizable and extremities were well preserved.

The body would be dubbed The Dröbnitz Girl and was between 12 to 14-years-old when she died. She likely lived and died in the iron age during the Hallstatt period around 650 BCE. She was wrapped in a large sheepskin cloak with her arms crossed over her chest. A wooden comb and a crest were found with her body. It's believed that this was a ritual funeral instead of sacrificial.

The body was destroyed or lost during WWII so further research could not be done. There is some information though. Samples of the bog suggest when the body was placed in a shallow pond that silted up and became a peat pond. Her stomach contents had the presence of leaves, flowers, residues of peas, wheat, meat fibers, and animal fats. High amounts of pollen were also discovered leading them to believe she may have been buried in the spring. She had evidence of malnutrition, whipworm, roundworm, and their eggs in her stomach. Which at the time would not have been uncommon


SOURCES:

Tuesday, August 3, 2021

The Elling Woman

 


In 1938 a bog body of a woman was found in Silkeborg, Denmark. The bog helped somewhat preserve the body and some clothing by the bog. The woman would be termed the Elling Woman. She was around 25-years-old and her sex was hard to identify at first because the front of the body didn't mummify as well as the back. She had died around 350–150 BCE.


Her death was believed to have been unnatural. She was either, executed, sacrificed, or murdered. She was hanged with a leather thong. The thong left a V-shaped ligature in her neck. No other injuries or such were linked to her death. After this, she was placed into the peat bog. 

The woman had an elaborate braid. A sheepskin cape was wrapped over her upper legs, and her legs and feet covered by a different sheepskinn cape. She was also wearing a woven belt around her waist that had a sliding knot. 

SOURCES:

 

Thursday, July 22, 2021

The Bocksten Man

 


In the 1880s a farm called Bocksten in Varberg Municipality, Sweden was created near a bog. The bog had been regularly drained and a harrow was used to gather peat by the owner Albert Johansson. A leather shoe was found in the wetland and donated to the Varberg County Museum, and later a shoe sole was also found in the bog.

On June 22, 1936, Albert's son Thur found a body while gathering peat. His harrow got caught on sackcloth. When Thur examined what he was hitting he saw parts of a skeleton. The next day Albert and Thur went and notified the police and doctor. It was then realized that the body was not recent and too old to be of investigation.

Johan Albert Sandklef, the director of Varberg County Museum, took over the body. He would invite others to help investigate the bog body that would eventually be called the Bocksten Man. They would measure and photograph the area before excavating.

The upper parts of the man passed through the harrow and were badly damaged. The lower parts stayed intact though. Though the body had been damaged his body is considered one of the best-preserved finds in Europe in that Era.

 It's believed he had been hit at the lower jaw, then the right ear, and then the lethal hit was towards the back of his head. He was then pushed to where he was found and impaled with three wooden poles used for roofing to the bottom of the bog. 

Bocksten Man's inner organs, parts of the lungs, liver, brain, and cartilage were preserved. It's believed that he's between 25 and 40 (more likely 35 to 40), but could be up to 60-years-old. He was 170 to 180 cm (5'7" to 5'11") tall with a slender build. His tunic was well-preserved, one of the best-preserved from that time. It was made of woollen fabric. He was wearing a gugel hood that was  90cm long and 2cm wide liripipe. He was wearing a shirt and a cloak and his legs were covered by hosiery. He had a fabric bag, foot coverings, leather shoes, a belt, a leather sheath and two knives. The sheath was 40mm wide and 62mm long, it was composed of 3 layers with a combined saltire and St. George's Cross carved on the outer layer. The inner laver had a similar pattern was carved, but with a pole added

The time he died was based on his clothing it's believed that he may have died between 1290 to 1430. His stature and items/clothing found with him makes it believed he was an upper class or a merchant.  It's also suggested that he was a tax collector or soldier recruiter. 

According to Albert Sandklef a local farmer, Karl Andersson, had heard of legend from when he was a child. His father was told bt two older people that a soldier recruiter was killed by local peasants. His body was put in the bog, but his ghost would haunt the area. So in order to stop it, poles were stuck into the body. Albert Sandklef asked other locals of this, but no one claimed to have heard of the story.

It's believed he had been hit at the lower jaw, then the right ear, and then the lethal hit was towards the back of his head. He was then pushed to where he was found and impaled with three wooden poles used for roofing to the bottom of the bog.


SOURCES:

Wikipedia

Mummipedia

Ancient Origins

Friday, June 19, 2020

The Kayhausen Boy

In 1922 the body of a young boy was found in a bog in Lower Saxony, Germany. He was called the Kayhausen Boy and was between 7 and 10-years-old and had lived and died between 300 and 400 BC. The boy had been killed and it's more than likely due to sacrificial reasons.

The young boy had been bound. Strips of woolen fabric were used to tie his arms behind his back, and a length of textile was wound around his neck, passed between his legs, and back up to his neck where the two ends were tied together. It was found that he had been stabbed 3 times in the neck and once in the left arm. It was likely killed with a dagger with a 4-centimeter blade. It's unknown if he was stabbed before or after he was bound.

It's likely he was sacrificed because he was disabled and probably considered disfavored by their gods. He had suffered from an infected socket at the top of his femur and was unable to walk without assistance. His story and identity will never be known as it was lost to history.

There is a picture of the boy, but it shows how he's tied up and to be a bit too much to post on here. Both links below do have images of this mummy though.

SOURCES:
Wikipedia
Mummipedia 

Thursday, May 14, 2020

The Porsmose Man

Post image

In 1946 the body of Porsmose Man was discovered near Næstved, Denmark in a bog. Unlike other bog bodies, he was not mummified and was a skeleton. The man was 35-40-years-old and had died  around 2600 BCE. It was obvious he had a brutal end.

He had been murdered as an arrow had entered through his nose. This was not likely the arrow that killed him as another arrow was found in his chest. The killer was up at an angle above the man at close range. It could be possible that it was execution or ambush to kill the man.

It's unknown who the Porsmose Man is or why he was killed. This will remain a mystery lost to time. 


SOURCES:
The Danish National Museum

Chu "Joe" Wong Kung

On September 26, 1946, 50-year-old Chu "Joe"  Kung was visiting Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He was at the time staying at the Alexan...