Bog Bodies - Kingship, Sacrifice and Baronies

slowburner

Old news, but interesting nonetheless.

Both Clonycavan and Oldcroghan Man (circa 392 - 175 B.C.) lived and died at the height of the Celtic Iron Age. Amongst other horrendous injuries, (being shackled with hazel withies pierced through holes in the upper arms, for example) both men had their nipples pinched and cut out.
The excessive and brutal manner in which both were executed, combined with evidence that they led a somewhat sheltered lifestyle, has led Ned Kelly to offer this theory:

'I believe these men were failed kings or failed candidates for kingship who were killed and placed in bogs that formed important tribal boundaries.
Sucking a king’s nipples was a gesture of submission in ancient Ireland. Cutting them would have made him incapable of kingship.'

'By using a range of methods to kill the victim, the ancient Irish sacrificed to the goddess in all her forms.'
(slightly adapted from irisharchaeology.ie and here)


See also Kingship and Sacrifice exhibition at the NMI

'Oldcroghan Man was found during the excavation of a drain along what is now a townland and parish boundary, once the territorial boundary between Tuath Cruacháin and Tuath na Cille (a townland is a parish subdivision; Tuath is often translated as "tribe"). Wondering if this was coincidental, Eamonn Kelly ( keeper of antiquities at the National Museum of Ireland) noted that Clonycavan Man, though the precise find spot is unknown, had been found where three baronies meet on the county border between Meath and Westmeath, which separated the ancient territories of Brega and Mide.
Kelly looked at other bog bodies. Two dated iron age bodies had been found close to barony boundaries (baronies are typically county subdivisions), and one actually on one (and a county boundary); a fourth had been found close to a parish boundary. Further research revealed that over 40 bog bodies – most of them likely to be iron age – had been found on important boundaries, mainly barony.'
Archaeologyuk.org
(more here)



It is a remarkable thought that the boundaries of present day baronies, might predate the Iron Age.

Most of the above is from 2010 - what is current thought on this?
Any dissenters from Eamonn P. Kelly's theory?

pueblo

slowburner wrote: »

Most of the above is from 2010 - what is current thought on this?
Any dissenters from Eamonn P. Kelly's theory?

I don't know enough to hazard an opinion, but it is fascinating stuff, especially the Sughaim Sine (nipple sucking) practise.

slowburner

A headless bog body has been found near Kinnegad, Co. Meath.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/1210/1224327682934.html