Clonycavan Man facts for kids
Clonycavan Man is the name given to a very old body found in a bog. He lived during the Iron Age, about 2,300 years ago. His body was found in March 2003 in Clonycavan, County Meath, Ireland. Scientists believe he was murdered.
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Who Was Clonycavan Man?
Only Clonycavan Man's head and upper body were found. A modern machine used for digging peat might have cut off his lower body.
Scientists studied his hair to learn about what he ate. His diet was full of vegetables and proteins. This suggests he might have died during the warmer summer months. Clonycavan Man was also quite young when he died, probably in his early twenties.
His Unique Hairstyle
The most interesting thing about Clonycavan Man was his hair. He had a special hairstyle that stood up on his head. He used a kind of "hair gel" to make it stay. This gel was made from plant oil and pine resin.
This special gel came all the way from south-western France or Northern Spain. This shows that people in Ireland traded with southern Europe a very long time ago. It also suggests Clonycavan Man might have been rich. Only wealthy people could afford imported beauty products.
His hairstyle might have also made him look taller. Studies of his body show he was only about five feet two inches tall (157.48 cm). He also had a squashed nose and crooked teeth. He had tiny pores on his nose and a thin beard.
How Did Clonycavan Man Die?
Experts from the Irish Police Forensic Division believe Clonycavan Man was murdered. They found clues on his body that suggest this.
Scientists used Radiocarbon dating to find out when he died. They believe he died between 392 BC and 201 BC. This was during the Iron Age in western Europe. This means his body is about 2,300 years old.
Where Can You See Him?
Clonycavan Man is part of an exhibit at the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin. He was also shown in a special exhibition called "Kingship and Sacrifice" from 2006 to 2007.
Images for kids
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This is a close-up of Clonycavan Man's head and upper body.
See also
In Spanish: Hombre de Clonycavan para niños
