Bog Bodies On Display at National Museum of Ireland

Saturday, 17 June 2006 11:34

Dublin, Ireland - Dr. Patrick F. Wallace, Director of the National Museum of Ireland, announced the opening of the exhibition entitled “Kingship & Sacrifice – An exhibition of bog bodies and related finds”. 

The exhibition is centered on the findings of the National Museum of Ireland’s Bog Bodies Research Project.  Following the discoveries of Iron Age bog bodies at Oldcroghan, Co. Offaly and Clonycavan, Co. Meath in 2003, a team of international specialists worked with Irish Antiquities and the Conservation Department of the National Museum to examine these human remains.  Now a major exhibition gives an overview of the results of the analysis and, along with other bog bodies from the collections of the National Museum, offers an opportunity to literally come ‘face to face’ with the past.

The exhibition also highlights a theory based on the observation that the bog bodies were placed along significant boundaries linking them with sovereignty and kingship rituals during the Iron Age.  Research also indicates that other related material is connected with inauguration rituals of kings and that these rituals can be traced back to the Bronze Age.  Many of these objects, such as kingly regalia, horse trappings, weapons, feasting utensils, textiles and boundary markers are on display.

Visit The National Museum of Ireland at : http://www.museum.ie/