Two Early Historic bog butter containers

Abstract

The first radiocarbon dates for bog butter were recently obtained from the contents of two wooden kegs found at Morven, Argyllshire, and Kyleakin, Skye. The dates cover the mid second to mid fourth centuries AD confirming suggestions that burial of bog butter was not exclusively a late medieval practice. The woodworking techniques used in making bog butter kegs from Scotland are varied and include methods used before the introduction of cooperage. Evidence of the physical nature of bog butter and reasons for its burial are reviewed.