A Keg of 'Bog-Butter' from Skye and its Contents

Abstract

In Ireland the practice of burying butter and other items such as tallow continued into the seventeenth century in contrast to Scotland where it appears to have stopped long ago. The Skye keg was discovered during peat cutting. A detailed description of the birch keg and its method of manufacture is provided followed by analysis of the butter. Chemical analysis could not confirm that the deposit was made up of butter fat but this could be due to decomposition. Animal and human hair were found within it.