Bodies in the Bog and the Archaeological Imagination

by Karin Sanders

Known for his red hair, day-old stubble, and uncannily preserved two-thousand-year-old physique, Tollund Man—a mummified body discovered in 1950s Denmark—was an instant archaeological sensation. But he was not the first of his kind: recent history has resurrected from northern Europe’s bogs several men, women, and children who were deposited there as sacrifices in the early Iron Age and kept startlingly intact by the chemical properties of peat. In this remarkable account of their modern afterlives, Karin Sanders argues that the discovery of bog bodies began an extraordinary—and ongoing—cultural journey. 

           

Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Sanders shows, these eerily preserved remains came alive in art and science as material metaphors for such concepts as trauma, nostalgia, and identity. Sigmund Freud, Joseph Beuys, Serge Vandercam, Seamus Heaney, and other major figures have used them to reconsider fundamental philosophical, literary, aesthetic, and scientific concerns. Exploring this intellectual spectrum, Sanders contends that the power of bog bodies to provoke such a wide range of responses is rooted in their unique status as both archeological artifacts and human beings. They emerge as corporeal time capsules that transcend archaeology to challenge our assumptions about what we can know about the past. By restoring them to the roster of cultural phenomena that force us to confront our ethical and aesthetic boundaries, Bodies in the Bog excavates anew the question of what it means to be human.

Genres: Archaeology, History, Nonfiction, Anthropology, Science

344 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2009

Reviews

[Malcolm MacKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally finished this cause hey… it is okay to read my books about bog bodies— I will not run out of new ones. Absolutely worth it incredible reflection on the ways we use remains of the past to make sense of the present.

[Charlotte · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm progressively discovering that I need to be more careful when reading the titles of my textbooks. 'And the Archaeological Imagination' should have been a tip as to the nature of this work.
This is not helpful in regards of being an introductory text to bog bodies - which is what I'd been looking for here. But it is an interesting - although sometimes feels very stretched (thinking especially in regards to the chapter on erotic digging, which descends into some rather uncomfortable territory at times) - review of these artefacts and their effect upon current 'imagination': art, literature and display in exhibits, etc. From an art historical or museum-study based angle, this is a brilliant and fascinating study. But for 'bodies in the bog', a detailed overview of this archaeologically, look elsewhere.
This said, notes and bibliography were exceptionally helpful, but the 'conclusion' chapter is far too abrupt. I was genuinely surprised to turn over and realise that that was that, normally closing comments are ripe for essay quotations.

[The Phoenix · Rating 1 out of 5]

I only read 4 chapters and the Introduction. There was a lot of criticism of P.V. Globs book, The Bog People (which I own and absolutely loved). Also, there was a chapter that was talking about the different fictional writings inspired by bog people. Instead of a brief overview, the author went over the stories in detail. I have no need to read those books now as I know what happens. I felt like I was reading someones research paper, which is not really what I was looking for. I also felt like some details were in there to make the book longer. The only interesting thing I found was when the author went over Himmler's opinions regarding the bog people and Tacitus' Germania (which I also own, but have not yet read). Because I did not feel there was enough useful information to finish, I can't recommend this book.

[muds · Rating 5 out of 5]

easily my new favourite work of scholarly non-fiction; sanders understands and interprets the bog, its bodies and its receptions with a considerate but artistic hand. masterful! :)

[Carl]

A book on the bog-bodies and their reception over the years in art, literature, archeology, etc-- by Karin Sanders, one of my dissertation committee members. Looks pretty accessible so far, if any of you non-academic types would like to read something by a world-class scholar on an interesting topic.

[Eloise Klein Healy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Currently reading this book. I had read The Bog People: Iron Age Man Preserved by P.V. Glob and I was entranced by the photos of these bodies. For the most part, they look as if they had simply fallen asleep. Also, I had read Seamus Heaney's poems in North about some of the people found in bogs. This book offers quite a bit more far ranging analysis across academic fields than the other books.

[Irka · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK, do łatwych lektur to to nie należy i spodziewałam się czegoś bardziej...archeologicznego, a wyszło tak pół na pół. Nie jest to jednak książka którą wziąć może każdy, a miejscami wymaga naprawdę dużego samozaparcia żeby ją skończyć, przedstawia jednak inne spojrzenie na pewne tematy, więc warta jest przeczytania choćby z ciekawości.

[Thom Dunn]

Added to wish list. Attn: Valerie, New from U Chicago Press.