Why butter can always be found in Irish bogs – Russia today Posting in CHAT: Russia Swamps often become a real treasure for archaeologists and historians. Due to the presence of humic acid, the pH level in peat bogs is similar to vinegar, which explains the ability of bogs to preserve objects trapped in them. In swamps, household items, clothing and other things are often found that have remained untouched for hundreds and even thousands of years. Irish and, to a lesser extent, Scottish moors are famous for the fact that butter is found in them relatively regularly. To date, about 500 such finds have been recorded, and residents of Ireland have been discovering similar treasures since the 17th century. . In addition to Ireland and Scotland, similar finds were found in Norway, the Netherlands and parts of modern Germany, but it was not widespread there. Oil in swamps is most often found in wooden barrels, buckets, or smaller containers such as wicker. baskets and cups. Sometimes a piece of butter can be wrapped in birch bark and cloth. However, about a third of the finds had no “packaging” at all. If oil is found in a swamp, it is usually butter; animal fat is somewhat less common. The size of the finds varies greatly - most often from 150 g to 20 kg, in some cases the weight exceeded 30 kg, and the largest find weighed 50 kg. Irish bog oil barrel, 15th – 16th century. The oldest known Irish find. today comes from Knockdreen, County Offaly (central Ireland). According to a study using radiocarbon dating, oil remained in the swamp between 1745 and 1635 BC. The oldest Scottish finds date from the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC. There are several theories as to why the people of Ireland and Scotland left oil in the swamp. swamps. However, they do not contradict each other. According to one version, the goal was long-term conservation. The oil is preserved very well in peat bogs, like other organic products. In one experiment, archaeologist Daniel K. Fisher found that the amount of pathogens and bacteria in meat stored in peat bogs for 2 years was comparable to the amount found in control samples. The latter were at the same time stored in a modern freezer. It should be noted that oil has been a common commodity of exchange for centuries and could be used to pay, so it made sense to save the surplus of this particular product “for a rainy day.” Another reason is the fermentation process to produce a more nutritious or tasty product. A well-known example of burying food in soil for fermentation is the "hundred-year egg", a popular snack in China. An experiment conducted by Nordic Food Lab in 2012 showed that butter after storage in peat. Over the course of 3 months, it absorbed a significant amount of aromas from the environment, acquiring unusual aromas. The oil vaguely resembled salami and had a slightly spicy and musky aroma. This way, not only did the oil not go rancid (as would happen if stored in the refrigerator), but it could then be used in the kitchen. Oil after storage in a swamp, experiment 2012. Nordic Food Lab has found the resulting bog oil to be beneficial. in the kitchen, especially when eating spicy foods. The experiment continued, and even after a year and a half, the swamp fat remained quite edible. A third reason to leave oil in the swamp may be the desire to protect such a valuable resource in ancient times from ill-wishers. The provisions hidden in the swamp remained inaccessible to the residents of the neighboring settlement in the event of a sudden attack by the latter. This also explains the huge number of similar finds: oil in the swamps sometimes remained unclaimed, as the territories changed hands. Often people were forced to move quickly and did not always have the opportunity to later return to the swamp for their “treasure”. Well, at least the opponents didn't get the butter. Pieces of butter found in a swamp without any packaging could have been left for storage or fermentation purposes; rather, it had a ritual significance. It is assumed that in this way the residents tried to appease some local deity by giving one of their most valuable barrels of oil, found in Scotland, to Edinburgh. Source link Source link
