Bog Bodies: Face to Face with the Past

The 'bog bodies' of north-western Europe have captured the imaginations of poets and archaeologists alike, allowing us to come face-to-face with individuals from the past. Their exceptional preservation permits us to examine minute details of their lives and deaths, making us reflect poignantly on our own mortality. But, as this book argues, the bodies must be resituated within a turbulent world of endemic violence and change. Reinterpreting the latest continental research and new discoveries, and featuring a ground-breaking 'cold case' forensic study of Worsley Man, Manchester Museum's 'bog head', it brings the bogs to life through both natural history and folklore, revealing them as places that were rich and fertile yet dangerous. The book also argues that these remains do not just pose practical conservation problems but also philosophical dilemmas, compounded by the critical debate on if - and how - they should be displayed.

Author: Melanie Giles
Publisher: Manchester University Press
Published: 12/15/2020
Pages: 328
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.75lbs
Size: 9.40h x 6.60w x 0.80d
ISBN13: 9781526150189
ISBN10: 1526150182
BISAC Categories:
- Art | Museum Studies
- History | Ancient | General
- Social Science | Archaeology

About the Author
Melanie Giles is Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Manchester