Swamp People: 10 Ancient Bodies Found in Peat Bogs

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Archeology is an interesting and sometimes unpredictable science. History knows cases when bodies of ancient people were found in peat bogs. As a rule, in such cases, the first thing to do was call the police, but it often turned out that the age of the find was several centuries. The tanning properties of peat and the low water temperature contribute to excellent preservation. In this review, "celebrities" are among those marsh bodies that are of particular interest to science. …

1. The Man from Lindow

In Great Britain, in one of the peat bogs, they found the mummified body of a 25-year-old man, which had lain in a swamp from 20-90s. AD This man was dealt with very cruelly. The wounds inflicted on him most likely indicate the ritual nature of the murder.

He has a fractured skull, a cut throat, a broken rib and neck, on which a thin leather rope is preserved. The contents of his stomach were a mixture of fried cereal grains and traces of the mistletoe plant, considered sacred by the Druids.

2. The Man from Cashel

Recently, in 2011, peat diggers in Ireland discovered a body that is 4,000 years old. This man died a violent death, as his spine and arm were broken and he had many wounds on his back. Perhaps this man was a king, and his death was the result of a sacrifice.

Irish kings were empowered through ritual marriage with the Earth Goddess to protect people and their territories. And if any disasters happened, it was believed that the marriage was unsuccessful, and the kings were sacrificed to the gods.

3. The Man from Old Krogan

The man whose mummified body was found in Ireland near Crogan Hill in 2003 died between 362 and 175 BC. NS. The carved nipples on his body most likely indicate that he was the deposed ruler. The Celts kissed the nipples of their kings as an expression of submission. And if it happened that the ruler was overthrown, his nipples were also cut out.

The body of the mummy retained traces of torture. He was stabbed to death, after which the body was beheaded and cut in two. His hands are tied together with the help of thin hazel twigs, thrust into the through holes of his forearms. Analysis of food debris from his stomach indicates the possible ritual nature of his relatively modest dying meal of porridge and butter.

4. Tollund Man

In 1950, a human mummy was discovered in the peat bogs of Denmark, which was about 350 years old. A very well-preserved head is wearing a sheepskin hat, and a rope around the neck. An analysis of the food preserved in the stomach showed that it was a soup made from a mixture of cereals and knotweed. And this, most likely, testifies to the ritual nature of his dying meal.

5. The woman from Elling

This mummy of a 25-year-old woman, who has lain in the swamps of Denmark since about 280 BC, has only a part of the body (back) and hair, decorated in a rather complex hairstyle, well preserved. A cord mark found on the neck indicates that she was hanged.

Of her clothes, only a cape, reaching to the thighs, was very neatly sewn from 4 pieces of sheepskin. The rest of her clothes appear to have decayed. Perhaps the woman was killed to be sacrificed.

6. The Man from Groboll

In Denmark, a human body was recovered from a peat bog, very well preserved, although it had lain in a swamp from about 290 BC. NS. The age of the deceased is about 30 years old. His fingernails are well preserved, and a shock of hair is on his head.

Of the clothes, only the cap and belt remained intact. This man was first killed by cutting his throat from ear to ear, and then drowned in a swamp. His stomach was mostly grains and seeds.

7. The woman from Haraldsker

Well-preserved body of a 50-year-old woman from the 5th century BC e., small stature, about 150 cm, was found in one of the swamps of Denmark in 1835. At first it was believed that it was Guinhelda, the queen of Norway, who, according to legend, was drowned in a quagmire on the orders of the king. However, later this version was not confirmed. A rope mark on her neck indicates that she was also sacrificed.

8. Teenager from Windeby

In northern Germany, the mummified body of a 14-year-old teenager who lived between 41 and 118 AD was found. At first, due to the thin skeletal bones, it was believed that the body belonged to a girl, however, later they came to the conclusion that it was still a boy. No clear signs of the cause of death were found. However, X-ray analysis revealed defects on the bones of his shins, suggesting that the boy suffered from exhaustion during his life, which led to impaired growth. Perhaps he died of hunger.

9. The Man from Boxten

In 1936, on the western coast of Sweden, a human body was recovered from a swamp, the date of burial of which is still rather vague - from 1290 to 1430. Judging by his clothes, shoes and accessories, he was a rather wealthy man with a high social status. Perhaps it was either a tax collector or a soldier recruiter. On his head, traces of several blows are visible - in the jaw, right ear, and in the back of the head when he was already on the ground. This last blow turned out to be fatal for him.

10. The Man from Detgen

In 1959, the beaten and decapitated body of a 30-year-old man was found in a quagmire near Detgen, Germany. His head was 3 meters from the body. They decapitated the body after death, so it is believed that a person could not be a ritual victim. Perhaps he was so feared that additional measures were taken to prevent him from returning after death as a ghost or zombie.

The Sleeping Beauty is considered the best-preserved mummy in the world - mummy of angelic babe Rosalia Lombardothat winks at tourists.