January 17, 2006—Fancy imported hair gel is, unfortunately, no guard against a good solid axe blow to the skull.

This sad fact is illuminated by Clonycavan man (pictured above) who suffered three blows from an axe to his head, one to his chest, and was also disemboweled before being mummified in an Irish peat bog.

Experts studying the remains of the murder victim say he likely lived between 392 B.C. and 201 B.C. The man's hair contains a substance made from vegetable oil mixed with resin from pine trees found in Spain and southwest France. The man might have used the product, researchers say, to make himself appear taller.

The team is also studying the remains of another ancient "bog man" discovered nearby, Oldcroghan man, whose lifelike hands display finely manicured nails. For more about the two well-groomed bog bodies, read "Murdered 'Bog Men' Found With Hair Gel, Manicured Nails."

Details about the bog men will be revealed in a television documentary to air on the BBC in Britain this Friday.

—Victoria Gilman

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