[3] Radiocarbon dating places the man as having died around 2000 BC, making him one of the oldest bog bodies in Europe.
[2] It is a commonly stated theory that the death of Cashel Man was related to a ritualistic killing tied to a kingship or territorial expansion designation.
A common finding among bog bodies is their proximity to known kingship inaugural sites, usually in a lower valley area under the hillside of where the kings took on their position.
The only well-understood indicator for these specific sacrifice traditions is the proximity of bodies to other significant events/areas, making this theory difficult to prove or disprove.
When a king within Ireland had particularly troublesome issues with things like a bad harvest, drought, or sickness they were the ones within the community who were held responsible.
[12] The slightly higher acid concentration along with a low oxygen content is inhospitable to the bacteria and organisms that cause decomposition; this naturally tans (via the same process used in leathermaking) the skin of any human or animal that is buried within it.
This leads to organic materials being well preserved for thousands of years and is how Cashel Man can have perfectly intact skin and hair.