John Pickin
At the last meeting of the winter season members and guests enjoyed an informative and revealing, illustrated presentation on “Bog bodies in Dumfries and Galloway”.
The speaker John Pickin (formerly Museum Curator, Wigtownshire, Dumfries and Galloway Arts and Museum Service) spoke of how his interest had been triggered by reading a book on the subject some years ago.
A Bog body is a human body that has been preserved or mummified in a peat bog. Such bodies vary widely in terms of age with the earliest examples dating from 8000 BC up to more recent examples from the 20th century.
They also vary widely in distribution. Bog bodies have been found mainly in northern Europe in countries like Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Ireland, the Netherlands and England.
The state of preservation can vary. The best preserved bodies may have retained both the skin and internal organs while other remains consist only of a skeleton.
The majority of Bog bodies date from the Iron Age a time when peat bogs covered a larger area of northern Europe. Famous finds in Europe include Tollund Man and Grauballe Man.
Many Iron Age examples suggest the deceased met a violent end and that ritual killing may have taken place. Also questions arise whether such bodies were thrown in to a bog as a gesture to a deity or for religious reasons. A number of examples were given of bodies found in Britain and Ireland. In Ireland in County Offally a body called Old Croghan Man was found in 2003 dating from 360/170 BC with signs of deliberate mutilation. Another example from County Meath dating from 392/201BC revealed a deliberately smashed skull. A further body, Cashel Man found in 2011 dating from 2000 BC is the oldest fleshed body found so far.
Elsewhere, in England, examples include Worsley Man found in 1958. In Cheshire in 1983 in Lindow Moss, Lindow Woman was found. In 1984 Lindow Man was found, a high status male from the first century AD killed by three different methods.
But what of Scotland? And Dumfries and Galloway in particular? Certainly there are some remains which have been found in Scotland like the Cladh Hallan mummies from 1600 to 1300 BC from South Uist, Gunnister Man discovered in 1953 and one or two other finds from the central belt.
As far as Dumfries and Galloway is concerned however there is limited specific evidence. Until the 20th century it was not always clear how long a body had been in a bog. However developments in forensic science, medical technology and archaeological methods now enable researchers to determine period of burial, age of body, cause of death and even what foods were eaten.
Local documentary evidence like newspaper reports and antiquarian finds indicate that bodies have been found. Unfortunately while finds have certainly been made body parts have not been preserved. In Lochar Moss for example there are a few cases where remains have been found but no body parts have survived.
However metalwork of various kinds like tools weapons, bronze collars, wristlets, ankle rings, bowls and such like have been found in the region. Also there is no doubt that other parts of the region contain bogs which could provide suitable conditions for preservation.
Based on the current documentary evidence available John Picken believes there are between 4 to 10 examples from Dumfries and Galloway which could be credible. It is hoped that further archaeological work in the future will substantiate the speculative finds to date and add to the rich history of the County.
The presentation was preceded by a short Annual General Meeting at which Chair Mike Duguid thanked members of the Committee for their work on behalf of the Society.
Active interest in and support for the Society remains high. The finances are sound and meetings regularly attract good audiences of members and visitors.
A web site will be launched by the Society later this year.
Once again members of the Society will be providing short guided walks around Kirkcudbright Graveyard, an important historic site in the history of the town, which also contains some fascinating gravestones. These are free and will take place in July and August for members, local residents and visitors.