The following is adapted from a project proposal submitted as part of an assignment for HIST-890 in the fall of 2022.

The ongoing preservation of northern European bog bodies is first and foremost relevant to the study of Iron Age Germanic and Celtic cultures. These cultures have left behind scant written histories; scholars are largely reliant on archeological evidence, second-hand Greek and Latin accounts or–more removed still–the transcription of presumed oral histories and traditions by Christian monks during the early Middle Ages in order to better understand early Germanic and Celtic peoples [Wells 1990]. European bog bodies are therefore vital to the ongoing study of specific burial practices among early Germanic and Celtic peoples.

The ongoing preservation and display of known bog bodies is especially important when taking into consideration the decreased reliance on fossil fuels and modern efforts to preserve over-harvested peatlands; as less peat is being excavated, there is diminished potential for additional bodies to be discovered moving forward. Even in the areas where peat continues to be regularly excavated (e.g., on various Scottish islands for use by distilleries), the machinery used for excavation risks destroying any remains, and so even at the height of their discovery through the twentieth century, finding in-tact bog bodies was rare [Lobell 2010]. It is therefore both imperative to ongoing research that these remains be, if not displayed, then at least preserved, lest one of the few resources we have for studying these cultures be lost to history.

Compiling preservation efforts and display methods into a blog serves a threefold purpose. First, it makes more transparent the ongoing care and treatment of these remains, which—although preserved for thousands of years by the acidity and often low temperatures in peat bogs—begin to rapidly decay upon re-exposure to oxygen. Early attempts included soaking the remains in solutions and applying protective coatings of either wax or oil, but some of the more recent discoveries—like that of the Lindow Man in the 1980s in northern England—have taken into consideration the successes and failures of preservation methods applied to bodies including Grauballe Man and Tollund Man in Denmark and looked instead to freeze-drying as the preferred method of preservation [Omar 1989]. Further, the initial preservation after removal from the bog is only the first hurdle; ongoing efforts include climate-regulated cases that control oxygen and moisture levels in order to prevent mold or rot, UV-absorbent film to prevent unnecessary light exposure, and pest control [“Displaying a Bog Body”]. Some museums also practice periodic cleaning of the remains, though assuming all instances of these treatments are documented, it would seem they are performed infrequently [“Bog Body; Arm-Band; Garotte”]. Compiling these ongoing concerns, various solutions, and their effectiveness into an online reference helps to establish a standard of care for these remains and, ideally, encourages transparency and accessibility between institutions.

Next, an accessible database opens up the conversation surrounding the design of exhibitions that are both respectful and thought-provoking. Dr. Jody Joy, a former curator for the European Iron Ages collection at the British Museum, wrote on the subject of displaying human remains:

[T]he decision to show human remains should not be made lightly and careful thought must be given to the reasons for and the circumstances of the display. DCMS guidelines stipulate that ‘human remains should only be displayed if the museum believes that it makes a material contribution to a particular interpretation; and that contribution could not be made equally effectively in another way’. Human remains should also be positioned so that people do not come across them ‘unawares’.

Joy 2014

Joy goes on to discuss the unique circumstances surrounding the display of bog bodies: the exceptional preservation of skin, hair, and nails offer museumgoers a unique opportunity to look history directly in the face in a way that more deteriorated remains do not, and additionally—whereas the histories of other periods and cultures could in many cases just as well be told through the display of funerary objects and other relevant archeological evidence—in the case of bog bodies, the remains themselves are the most relevant archeological evidence available for the study of this type of burial. For these reasons, the display of bog bodies does indeed make a material contribution to the interpretation that could not be made as effectively through other methods, but the design of their displays is something that should nevertheless be given careful consideration. Well-designed displays should present the remains with a wide array of museumgoers in mind, those who don’t wish to view human remains at all; they should encourage continued public interest in these remains, which in turn helps ensure continued funding and support for the proper care of the remains; and they should function to protect the remains from further deterioration. Many current exhibits do not meet these expectations. Increased transparency would shed light on these shortcomings, perhaps encouraging some museums to reconsider their display methods, and would also provide a reference point for improvements to current exhibits.

Finally, while especially relevant to Iron Age Europe, the conversation surrounding the preservation and display of bog bodies also has implications for the display of human remains on the whole. Bog bodies are Europe’s natural mummies; with the increased likelihood of repatriation in the near future for human remains like the Egyptian mummies currently housed in the British Museum, it might be beneficial to encourage European museums to redirect their focus toward the ongoing care of their own indigenous mummies. Cultivating a renewed public interest in bog-preserved remains and local histories could generate the sort of foot traffic that large institutions fear losing if they repatriate stolen remains and artifacts. Further, making transparent the methodologies for preserving bog bodies could aid in the preservation of other unique organic finds in the future, should their respective countries choose to preserve them. Lastly, information on the design of these exhibitions, including both functional and aesthetic elements, could offer a useful reference point in designing a wide range of culturally sensitive displays.