What were some of the different views that bog related cultures had towards the bogs themselves? Were the bogs generally just seen as an easy way to dump unwanted items? Were they like Stargates, in the sense many are in awe of their power while others just see a effective trash removal system? Or did societies see them in both a religious but fearful sense, like Shai-Hullid (may His passing cleanse the world)?
In all seriousness, how did the cultures normally associated with bogs feel about bogs in general during the height of their normal or ceremonial use?
In hunter-gatherer societies, where shamanism was widely practiced, bodies of water such as lakes, water holes, and bogs were regarded as portals to the spirit world.
This is, interestingly enough, a human universal-- aborigines in Australia, the San Bushman in Africa, and the Conibo in the Amazon are but a few examples of cultures that regard bodies of water as gateways to the spirit world. It is not unreasonable to postulate that these beliefs carried over into later cultures.
Sources:
The Way of the Shaman, by Michael Harner
Shamanism: Archaic Technique of Ecstasy by Mircea Eliade
Hi, a short comment on bogs as a portal from /u/Aerandir here