Comment on This is at Jorvik Viking Center.
Enkrod@feddit.de 3 months agoWell the human gut is anoxic too, so that shouldn’t be a problem for the gut-bacteria in that log and in the bog mummies. I think it way more likely that the sphagnan and the other tannins in peat-bog-water conserved this as well as the bog bodies.
fossilesque@mander.xyz 3 months ago
fossilesque@mander.xyz 3 months ago
Enkrod@feddit.de 3 months ago
That is extremely cool and I don’t doubt your expertise in the slightest. Was only commenting about that anoxic conditions alone wouldn’t necessarily preserve the bog mummies, but that the acidic conditions and tannins are likely more important.
fossilesque@mander.xyz 3 months ago
Ah yes, I got confused for a minute. The lack of oxygen is the most important for preservation in general, but specifically for skin etc., the acid and tannins keep that.