Bogs

A bog is a type of wetland that accumulates acidic peat, which is a deposit of dead plant material. Bogs are widely distributed in cold, temperate climes, mostly in the northern hemisphere. Some of the world's largest wetlands are the bogs of the Western Siberian Lowlands in Russia. Many bogs are also found in Europe, including Ireland, Scotland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Estonia, Finland, and northern Germany. They are also found in Canada and Alaska.

One of the interesting aspects of bogs is their ability to preserve organic material. This aspect has given rise to the term "bog bodies," as more than a thousand preserved human bodies have been found in bogs. These bodies have been dated as far back as 10,000 BC. Click here for Slate's "Explainer" podcast on how bogs are able to preserve organic material so well.

One of the most famous bog bodies is that of "Tollund Man" (pictured on the right). Radiocarbon dating has placed his death at approximately 350 BC, yet you can still clearly see is face and the rope around his neck that killed him. The man's stomach and intestines were also intact, and scientists discovered that his last meal had been a kind of soup made from vegetables and seeds, some cultivated and some wild: barley, linseed, gold of pleasure (Camelina sativa), knotweed, bristlegrass, and camomile.