some of the deadest ecosystems around

and I mean that quite literally.

Called peatlands,

these wetland environments are famously good

at hiding dead people.

Because of their lack of oxygen and highly acidic conditions,

organic matter like plants and people

don't have a way to decompose like they normally would.

This means that human remains can persist for years,

sometimes, millennia in peatlands perfectly preserved.

These bog bodies look like mummies and can provide archaeologists with clues as to how

people lived in the past.

Some bodies are so well intact, that they can have their fingerprints taken.

Pretty creepy right?

If you want to learn more about peat bogs, be sure to check out our Elements episode

on that very topic.