peat

OPPOSITE The peat mummified hand of Old Croghan Man, from Co. Offaly, preserves intimate details including the texture of his skin and the shape of his fingernails. Bog bodies like this are particularly resonant archaeological discoveries, being so recognisably human.

Touching the past: encountering Iron Age bog bodies

Bog bodies are particularly potent archaeological discoveries, representing the recognisable faces of people from the past. Why were so many of these figures consigned to watery graves during the Bronze and Iron Ages, and what are scientific advances adding to our understanding of these enigmatic individuals? Current Archaeology's Carly Hilts explores thought-provoking recent research by Melanie Giles.