What is Archeology?

March 31, 2012



Archeology is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and the environmental data that is left behind that can include biofacts, cultural landscapes, artifacts and architecture. Archeology is very important when learning about prehistoric societies because there were no written records to study.

Picture: http://www.pcl-eu.de/virt_ex/detail.php?entry=09hoard

When peat-lands and bogs first started to grow, they expanded over the landscape and people were already living around them. These areas have preserved many riches such as recording the history of vegetation change since the Ice Age. Bogs have recorded earliest Irish history and prehistoric times. Things that have been discovered in peat-land and bogs consist of human bodies, weapons/ornaments of metal, tools, articles of clothing and block of butter.

Picture: http://cogitz.com/2009/09/04/bog-bodies-preserved-corpses/

*This blog was just an introduction to Archeology and a brief description of what peat-lands has done to preserve history*

Information: Wurm, K. M. (n.d.). Archived in Peat. Retrieved March 30, 2012, from Pathways to Cultural Landscape: http://www.pcl-eu.de/virt_ex/detail.php?entry=09hoard

Peat-Land Animals

March 23, 2012



Animals that can be found in peat-lands are classified in three different compartments which include the aquatic components of the open water pools, the terrestrial fauna that range between the peat-land and the terrestrial fauna that are found within the peat-land itself. Many animals or birds will travel to these areas because peat-land supplies a source of food and water. Today, we are going to discuss arthropods, flatworms, amphibians/reptiles, birds and mammals.

Picture from: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/08/bogosphere/

Arthropods: consist of centipedes, millipedes, spiders, insects and crustaceans. This category can be broken down into several different ecological groups such as aquatic arthropods living in temporary waters, or permanent fen or bog pools.

Flatworms: the typical flatworms that can be found in peat-lands are the Catenulida group. There are roughly 20 different species of flatworms that can be located in peat-lands and several hundred can be removed from a handful of moss.

Picture from: http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/flatworm.htm

Amphibians/Reptiles: peat-lands are important for frogs, salamanders and toads because they need wet habitats. Reptiles that can be found in frequent bogs, swamps or fens are the painted turtle, spotted turtle, the common garter snake, eastern ribbon snake and both the small lizard and the adder.

Birds: a wide diversity of birds can be found in peat-lands which include the common crane, sandhill crane, woodpeckers, the Eurasian black grouse, rustic bunting, spruce grouse, European hazel grouse, the Eurasian woodcock, just to name a few!

The Eurasian Black Grouse (picture from: http://ibc.lynxeds.com/files/pictures/Tetras_lyre_2007.4018.DVD_31..jpg)

Mammals: swamps and fens are very important because they are feeding grounds for larger animals and small rodents. Some mammals that can be found in peat-lands are white-tailed deer, muskrat andbeavers.

Work Cited:  

Rydin, H., & Jeglum, J. (2006). The Biology of Peatlands. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Diversity of Life in Peatlands

March 15, 2012

             Peat-lands host a wide range of various species and life forms. Plants are the most obvious form of life because they provide the structural groundwork, which are the source of organic compounds resulting from photosynthesis for the nourishment of microorganisms and animals. The peat type and quality of organic matter are unquestionably the most important features influencing rates of diversity, biomass growth and decomposition.  Today we are going to look at the diversity of life in peat-lands which includes fungi and microorganisms, protozoans, algae, lichen, plants.

Fungi & Microorganisms: heterotrophic microorganisms are microbes that obtain energy from degradation of organic material and involves mostly of fungi and bacteria.

Protozoan: ciliates and rhizopods are both important peat-lands groups. Rhizopods (testate amoebae) are the most common and have well-defined ecological preferences such as mineral concentrations and water table depths.

                              Picture: http://biomessecond08.wikispaces.com/Coral+Reef+Facts

Algae: peat-lands are rich in microalgae and their diversity seems to be related to the rich-poor incline in much the same way as vascular plants.

Lichen: some have an outstanding ability to endure desiccation and are usually found on tree trunks, rocks and other exposed habitats.

Plants: in peat-land ecology, bryophytes that can be found in these areas are peat mosses, brown mosses, liverworts and feather mosses. When discussing graminoids which include grasses and other groups that have a grass-like morphology that consists of cotton grasses and sedges. Herbs can be found in peat-lands occasionally. A common bog shrub that can be found in peat-lands is the northern dwarf birch species. Many tree species overlap when upland locations connect with peat-lands, adding diversity to these areas.

*Next Blog will pertain to animals found in peat-lands!

* Bibliography: Rydin, H., & Jeglum, J. (2006). The Biology of Peatlands. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Heritage and Culture

March 11, 2012

In Ireland, peat-lands are a characteristic part of the landscape and over the years peat has been used for a number of things. Mammals, birds and wild berries that can be found in peat-lands have provided a source of food 6,000 years ago for the Stone Age people. When these people arrived in Ireland, they brought livestock that used peat-lands for grazing and this method is still used today on upland bogs.

                Peat being used as a source of fuel can be dated back to the 7^th century, but there has been evidence suggesting it was used soon than that. During the 18^th and 19^th centuries, peat was used for a number of things such as the manufacture of postcards and wrapping papers from peat fiber. The lower layers of peat-lands were usually used for fuel while the upper layers were used to produce peat moss. When peat was found to be a valuable source of fuel for heating and cooking, many people would cut turf from bogs. This was a labor-intensive job which forced people to come in direct contact with nature.

                Song, sculpture, prose and poetry have been used by people in Ireland to express their particular relationship with bogs and the animals and plants they contain. People who inspect bog on a close encounter will notice the wealth of colors, treasures, smells and sounds.

*Information used from NIES (Northern Ireland Environmental Agency)

*http://www.doeni.gov.uk/niea/biodiversity/habitats-2/peatlands/heritage_and_culture.htm