Conservation treatment of recently discovered bog bodies at the National Museum of Ireland

Abstract Bog bodies contain a wealth of information and when treated with respect and sensitivity present an opportunity for scholars and the public to come ‘face to face’ with our past. Eight bog bodies have been discovered in Ireland in the past 20 years and the conservation of three of these is described in this article. Past conservation techniques and their results were assessed to best plan the treatment for the bodies, with the conservation method selected being freeze-drying using poly-ethylene-glycol (PEG). This technique has limitations due to the final visual appearance after treatment of bodies which exhibit well preserved soft tissue. The results of the treatment were consistent with this expectation and have prompted a recommendation for further research into new techniques for conservation before any further treatment of bog bodies is undertaken at the museum.