Mummies

Today is the start of a new series about human preservation, because 
I friggin' love mummies. At the top of my list undoubtedly sit the Bog People, so in continuation of this months' Celtic theme, let's start with a look at some finds from The Emerald Isle. Amazingly preserved, like people cast in metal, they give homage to the very era from whence they sunk into the bogs' depths. 

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/01/0117_060117_irish_bogmen.html

It's not just that the bodies remain intact, but fine details can still be clearly observed, like fingerprints on hands, or intricately woven pieces of fabric, and the jewelry that adorned them for their trip to the afterlife; items precious to archaeologists and scientists.

Through testing of their stomach contents, we learn about their diet, from their clothing we can determine their social status, through carbon dating, the time period, and from forensic study, the circumstances surrounding their deaths. The bog is a veritable time capsule, rife with fascinating details about The Iron Age. 

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/01/0117_060117_bog_photo.html

This fellow has a rather distinctive crop of hair. Scientists determined that his hair gel was imported from the south of France or Spain. Travel between the islands and the continental mainland were extremely frequent, giving rise to a distinctive Norman culture. For a more in-depth synopsis of the Celts and Gauls, please read more about it here: http://www.netplaces.com/irish-history/celts-and-the-age-of-kings/gaelic-and-indo-european-languages.htm.

Tollund Man

My favorite specimen is Tollund Man, bearing the same face he wore in life. He is the perfect time traveller, an intact and flawless encapsulation from the past. Remarkable, isn't he? Peat bogs have unique chemical compositions which act as natural preservatives. More on that here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bog_body.

Shoes from the Iron Age

Gruesome? Maybe for some, but not to me. This window to the past gives us a glimpse of their culture, perhaps shedding some light about our evolution and progress, as a species. The Iron Age was a time of brutal tribal conflicts, savage wars, bloody murders, and ritual sacrifice during dire economic times.....well, I'll leave it up to you to decide how far we've come. One thing is certain, it's a big world out there.  
Let's explore it together!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bog_bodies

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bog/iron-nf.html

http://www.archaeology.org/online/features/bog/clothing1.html

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/09/bog-bodies/clark-photography