Bogs and humans have had a complex relationship. Water is thought to have held an otherworldly liminal boundary for prehistoric man which explains the various possibly votive offerings that have been found. Bog butter, weaponry, wooden teritorial markers perhaps e.g Ralaghan Man, Co. Cavan (late Bronze Age) and human remains, possibly sacrificial.

Both bodies illustrated here have been dated to the Iron Age. A number of bogbodies have been found on ancient sovereign boundaries suggestive of royal sacrifices. Both were in good health and well fed. The hands of Old Croghan Man showed no signs of manual labour and the resin hair gel on Clonycavan Man was found to come from France or Spain, not available to a commoner you would assume.

Both can be seen at the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin.