I hate to make broad sweeping statement about an incredible array of different peoples over vastly different timelines, but also: historical people were gross.
“Bog” just might be one of the most disgustingly evocative words. It should conjure images of the sort of filthy swamp that Shrek would live in, not as somewhere to store food – but that’s exactly what old timey Scottish and Irish people did.
People would chuck huge quantities of butter into bogs because, thanks to their temperature and acidity and oxygen levels, they are basically perfect at preserving big ol’ lumps of dairy.
Turf cutter (which I assume means he sleeps with other people’s girlfriends) Jack Conaway was cutting turf (lol) in County Cavan, Ireland when he came across the massive, two millennium old hunk of spreadable goodness.
The butter has been given to the Conservation Department of the National Museum for further analysis.
In 2013 another turf cutter came across a similar chunk of butter estimated to be about 5000 years old. Back in the day butter was a luxury good used not just for cooking, but also as currency and to ward of evil spirits.
Although theoretically it’s completely edible, scientists and archeologists do not recommend you use it to line your cake pan. What a world.
Photos: Cavan County Museum.
Story: CNN.
