HOW DO BODIES BECOME NATURALLY MUMMIFIED?

Tollund Man (pictured), who lived in the fourth century BCE, is one of the best studied examples of a 'bog body'

Natural mummification is defined as the process by which the skin and organs of a deceased person or animal are preserved, without the introduction of chemicals by humans.

It is rare, and only happens in specific situations.

These include: extreme cold, arid conditions, or a lack of oxygen.  

Naturally preserved mummies have been found deposited in deserts, buried in oxygen-poor peat bogs, and frozen in glaciers. 

Some ancient societies accidentally encouraged this process, as they would paint the bodies and cover the deceased person's face in a mask.

This provided an impervious layer which allowed the process to take place.

Throughout the UK, bogs provide the perfect environment for this to happen. 

Tollund Man, discovered in Denmark in 1950, is one of the best studied examples of a 'bog body'.

The man, who lived in the fourth century BC, was so well-preserved that he was initially mistaken for a recent murder victim.