Thread: This distinctive leather arm-ring was found on an Iron Age bog body from Offaly. It represents a very unusual find from this period, as organic jewellery rarely survives. Thankfully the cold, acidic and oxygen-free conditions of the bog prevented the leather from decaying 
The bog body containing the arm-ring is now referred to as ‘Old Croghan Man’ and consists of the partial remains of a young adult male who died sometime between 362 BC and 175 BC (the head and lower torso of the body are missing).
He had been extremely tall in life, measuring 6ft 6in height and had well manicured hands suggesting that he was not used to manual labour.
Like many other bog bodies, Old Croghan Man had suffered a violent death. Holes had been cut into his upper arms through which a rope of hazel withies was threaded in order to restrain the body. He was then stabbed & his nipples sliced, before finally being cut in half
The arm-ring was located on Old Croghan’s upper arm and was fashioned out of inter-twined strips of worked leather that were reinforced with bands of animal sinew. Four bronze mounts were clasped around the leather and these helped hold the arm-ring together
More detail on the find and photo credits here irisharchaeology.ie/2015/05/treasu…
