diff --git a/pivot-table.el b/pivot-table.el
index 73898a1..26cd214 100644
--- a/pivot-table.el
+++ b/pivot-table.el
@@ -52,6 +52,17 @@ TODO: more documentation"
             (setq n (1+ n))))))
     result))
 
+(defun pt-get-body (source)
+  "Discards all rows from a table before the first hline (if present)
+If there is no hline, the table is instead returned unaltered."
+  (catch :return
+    (let ((remain source))
+      (while remain
+        (when (eq (car remain) 'hline)
+          (throw :return (cdr remain)))
+        (pop remain))
+      source)))
+
 ;; Local Variables:
 ;; read-symbol-shorthands: (("pt-" . "pivot-table-"))
 ;; End: