Human diet – the Tyrolean ice body, Irish bog bodies and coprolites from Iran

Well-preserved human remains such as the Tyrolean Ice body (Otzi) and the European bog bodies offer many avenues for investigation that are not normally open to archaeologists. Headland has an in-house expertise in the microscopic analyses of plant and animal remains and is therefore periodically asked to contribute to research projects requiring these forensic skills. Recent projects have included analysis of  the gut contents of several internationally famous bodies: Otzi the Tyrolean Ice Man, the Clonycavan and Oldcroghan bog bodies for the National Museum of Ireland as well as mummies from Zanjan Province Iran on behalf of Bradford University.