Irish man finds 2000yo bog butter

  • 15/06/2016
Bog Butter (Cavan County Museum)
Bog Butter (Cavan County Museum)

In the deep and dark Emlagh bog in County Meath, Ireland, a turf cutter has found a buried treasure -- bog butter which could have laid undisturbed for two millennia.

Jack Conway was cutting peat from the bog to burn for winter, when he found the 10kg lump of submerged butter. Researchers at the Irish Cavan Museum say it is more than 2000 years old.

It has been described as having a distinctive pungent and funky smell, but as for the taste? No one has dared try to eat it.

Andy Halpin, assistant keeper in the Cavan Museum's Irish antiquities division, said the butter may still be usable.

"Theoretically the stuff is still edible, but we wouldn't say it's advisable," Mr Halpin told the Irish Times.

The butter has been sent to the Conservation Department at the Irish National Museum for further testing.

Newshub.