Swamp oil: why did the ancient inhabitants of Ireland bury butter in peat

In Scotland and Ireland at the moment, more than 250 ancient hiding places with butter have been discovered, which is well preserved, given its venerable age of several thousand years. Oil was discovered in peat deposits in the marshy area that was once inhabited by the ancient inhabitants of this region. Mass caches in the swamp for a long time remained a mystery, for the solution of which it took a number of experiments.

Initially, scientists assumed that the products found were animal fats. But after the analysis, it turned out that it was nothing but butter, and according to radiocarbon dating, some samples were made around 1,700 BC. Oil was found in various vessels, but most often it was wooden tubs, and the first finds of ancient "canned food" date back to the Middle Ages. New containers with oil continue to be found in the 21st century, and not so long ago, scientists began to study them in detail and even made similar specimens of swamp oil.

Initially, several versions were put forward of why the inhabitants of the island were digging a valuable product into peat. The version of preservation of the product was considered the most likely, but there were supporters of the ritual rite, who believed that ancient people buried butter in peat for cult reasons. After careful study, most researchers began to lean toward the first version, and here's why.

It turns out that peat bogs have specific properties, and the ancient inhabitants of Ireland and Scotland were aware of this. Peat deposits act as a preservative, preventing pathogenic microorganisms from multiplying, which lead to spoilage of products. During the experiments, it turned out that the oil, which had lain for several months in peat, did not deteriorate and did not lose its nutritional value. Although researchers note that it acquired a specific flavor resembling noble mold cheese, it was still usable. Most likely, the ancient inhabitants of these places used peat bogs in order to save excess butter.