What happens to skin after 2000 years in a bog?

Background and Objective. Mummies have an important place in the study of a rchaeology and paleopathology because they are so well preserved. For the f irst time skin samples of six 2300-1600 year old bog bodies from North Germ any were examined by histology,transmission electron microscopy and immunoh istology. Methods. For histology the samples were stained with H&E and van Gieson ela stic stain. Fixation and embedding in epoxy followed for the transmission e lectron microscopy. Specific antibodies directed to type IV collagen and S- 100 were used. Results. Histologically it was possible to observe collagen bundles in the dermis,with a density similar to recently stained samples. Epidermis was no t preserved. The electron microscopy showed collagen fibrils with a diamete r of 45-110 nm and the characteristic axial periodicity. Throughout the der mis,a number of spores of bacteria with a diameter of 0,83 +/-0,051 mum and an electron dense core were found. No activity against the used antibodies could be detected. Conclusions. Histology and electron microscopy demonstrate the excellent co nservation of the dermal collagen in the bog. In contrast to ice mummies li ke,,Otzi"and mummies from Egypt, no cellular elements could be found in the skin of bog bodies.