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While many people are intrigued by mummies, most of us think of those deliberately preserved through ancient embalming rituals. King Tutankhamen is often the first name that comes to mind, followed by other well-known mummies from cultures that placed great care in their preservation. From Egypt to South America to China, these mummies dominate our imagination. However, the fascinating cases of those preserved unintentionally—like bog mummies—are often overlooked.
The unique conditions of the peat bogs in Northern Europe—low oxygen, high acidity, and cold temperatures—acted like a natural preservative, preserving ancient bodies in remarkable detail. These preserved remains, many from the Iron Age, often retain soft tissues and organs intact. While these ancient Europeans left no written records, the bog mummies offer us an extraordinary window into their lives.
10. They Took Pride in Their Hair
From the stylish Suebian knot worn by the Osterby Man to the elaborate, 1-meter-long braided masterpiece of Elling Woman, or the pine resin-enhanced pompadour sported by Clonycavan Man, it’s clear that the men and women of the Iron Age had a flair for fashion and vanity.
While it's unclear whether these hairstyles were everyday looks or reserved for special events (such as the ritual sacrifices that may have contributed to these bodies being preserved in the bogs), one thing is for sure: these people were far from the image of wild, untamed savages with messy hair.
9. They Were Masters of Plaid
Popular media often portrays the ancient world in dull, earth-toned hues, perpetuating the belief that no one bathed, styled their hair, or wore anything other than shades of gray, black, or brown. This stereotype paints a picture of a world devoid of color and self-care.
This was not the case for the Iron Age. Many bog bodies were discovered with little to no clothing. Tollund Man had just a belt, Elling Woman was found with a cloak and belt, and Yde Girl wore only a cape.
Huldremose Woman stands as a rare exception. The bog preserved her patterned woolen skirt and scarf, along with two leather capes. She was dressed in red and blue when she passed away, and her body still carries traces of flaxen undergarments.
Through strontium isotope analysis of her clothing, researchers learned that her garments came from outside the region where she was discovered in Denmark. This discovery hints that she either traveled or imported her fashionable attire.
8. They Didn’t Follow a Low-Carb Diet
Tollund Man's remarkably serene expression was so perfectly preserved that his discovery in May 1950 sparked a murder investigation. Due to his exceptional preservation, researchers have been able to analyze his stomach contents, revealing what he ate before his death by hanging.
His final meal was a hearty porridge made from an impressive mix of over 40 grains and seeds. So, the next time you feel proud of your seven-grain hot cereal, keep in mind that Tollund Man was outdoing you in the year 300 BC.
7. They Didn’t Follow a Low-Fat Diet, Either
The Iron Age inhabitants of what is now Ireland had a serious love affair with butter. How serious? Imagine having a personal stockpile of 10 kilograms (22 pounds)—just for yourself. And no, that's not a typo.
In 2016, a man named Jack Conway stumbled upon a 10-kilogram (22 lb) block of butter preserved within the Emlagh peat bog in County Meath. Surprisingly, this wasn’t the first time such a discovery had been made. Butter and rendered animal fats are not uncommon finds in peat bogs.
Before the advent of mass-produced, expeller-pressed oils, edible fats were an important and valuable resource. It's believed that butter was even used as a form of tax payment. This may help explain the 35-kilogram (77 lb) chunk discovered in County Kildare, as well as the 5,000-year-old, 45-kilogram (100 lb) piece from County Offaly.
Ben Reade, the unconventional scientist heading Culinary Research and Development at Nordic Food Lab, created his own version of bog butter for a taste test in 2012. The results were, to say the least, mixed.
6. Some People Suffered from Malnutrition
While some bog bodies have been found with porridge and bread in their stomachs, along with vast amounts of butter, not all were well-nourished. Moora, the girl from Uchter Moor, showed signs of chronic malnutrition as a child, evidenced by the growth lines in her bones.
As Clonycavan Man imported his costly hair gel and Huldremose Woman acquired her vibrant wardrobe, Moora was left starving, carrying heavy burdens, and recovering from at least two skull fractures. She died between the ages of 17 and 19.
5. Their Heights Were As Diverse As Ours
Don’t be fooled by the relatively short statures of Tollund Man or Clonycavan Man into thinking you would have towered over Iron Age men like a giant among Lilliputians.
Although Clonycavan Man and his companion stood at 160 centimeters (5’3”) and 157 centimeters (5’2”), respectively, the partial remains of Old Croghan Man, found just 40 kilometers (25 miles) away from Clonycavan, suggest he would have stood around 198 centimeters (6’6”) tall during the BCs.
Even in 2018, that’s a height that would certainly attract attention.
4. They Performed Brain Surgery (And Survived It)
The skull of Gadevang Man, who died around 480 BC, shows a circular hole about 1.2 centimeters (0.5 in) in diameter. Nearby, there’s an elongated scar likely caused by an axe strike to the head.
This individual appears to have survived a severe head injury and the life-saving surgery performed on him, a remarkable feat achieved thousands of years before the advent of microscopes, CT scans, or even antibiotics.
3. They Were Incredibly Violent
Though the rope still hanging from Tollund Man's neck may seem shocking to us today, he may have had it easier compared to others. Lindow Man was struck on the head, strangled, and had his throat cut. Clonycavan Man met his end from a brutal axe blow to the chest and three strikes to the head, followed by disembowelment.
If the sheer brutality wasn’t enough, it seems Iron Age people also had a taste for torture. Old Croghan Man had holes cut into his arms through which a rope was threaded to bind him. To make matters worse, his nipples were sliced, and he was stabbed. And, to ensure sufficient suffering, his murderer(s) severed him in half across the torso.
2. They Got High On Mushrooms
Humans have been experimenting with mind-altering substances since ancient times. The opium poppy was cultivated as early as the 6th millennium BC, and black henbane along with cannabis were likely in use during this period as well.
In ancient Europe, hallucinogenic mushrooms seemed to be the go-to choice for getting a buzz. Otzi, the Copper Age man preserved in alpine ice, carried two types of mushrooms with him. Some suggest—though it's not proven—that certain motifs in Bronze Age art may actually pay tribute to these fungi.
By the time Grauballe Man met his fate, it seems consuming hallucinogenic mushrooms had become a tradition. Before his throat was slashed, he reportedly ate a mushroom-infused soup. Whether these mushrooms were for medicinal, recreational, or ritual purposes remains up for debate, but it’s safe to say he was probably blissfully unaware of his impending death.
1. They Would Likely Have Dominated Your Local Rodeo Events
In modern Western society, equestrian sports are often viewed as the domain of the wealthy, a pastime of the elite. True horsemanship has become rare enough that people willingly cram into uncomfortable bleachers in the blazing sun just to catch a glimpse. And we’ll gladly pay for the privilege, too.
Red Franz, on the other hand, would have outshone any contemporary cowboy. By the time of his death, this young man had already developed protrusions known as "rider’s facets" on his thigh bones, a direct result of years of constant horseback riding.
