The site of discovery and the events which brought the remains to light
May 6th 1950, Bjedskoval bog, Denmark
The brothers Viggo and Emil Højgaard were digging in peat for fuel and came across something unusual hidden in the layers of peat. This turned out to be the body of Tollund Man. They contacted the police, believing the body to be a recent murder victim, due to the amazing preservation of the body. The police realised that this was no recent murder victim, and contacted the Silkeborg Museum, whom upon viewing the site with authorities, contacted Professor P.V. Glob from Aarhus. |
Scientific dating techniques
The primary technique used to date the remains of Tollund Man was Radiocarbon Dation (or C-14 dating). This dating revealed that Tollund Man must have died around 2500 years ago, placing the time of death at roughly 210 BC. Information gathered from his intestinal contents showed evidence of seeds grown in springtime, narrowing his death to early spring.
Forensic analysis of the remains to help determine the cause and context of death
· Forensic analysis of the remains to help determine the cause and context of death
The man was only wearing a pointed leather cap, made of sheepskin, and thin leather belt. These were the only remaining clothing on the mans person. Only other clothing was a leather rope tied into a noose around his neck. This rope ‘tied’ (pun intended) into the circumstances of Tollund Man’s death. The Tollund Man presents one of the clearest cases of cause of death. He was found with a rope around his neck, which had left marks in the skin on the sides of his neck and under the chin, while these marks were not found on the back his neck where the knot would have been at the time of the hanging. It had been cut and carefully coiled New examination of the body also indicates that his tongue was distended, which is a tell-tale sign of hanging. After exhumation, the remains were transported to Bispebjerg Hospital where it was x-rayed. Upon the completion of an autopsy of the body the head was dismembered from the body in order to preserve it for the future. The Tollund Man has undergone many tests for 64 years. These tests include a(n):
Only other clothing was a leather rope tied into a noose around his neck. The forensic examiner’s report states among other things that “the rope, judging by the way it was placed around the body’s neck, was most likely not used for strangulation, and because of that it is of less importance that the cervical vertebras were undamaged as this doesn’t always happen in hangings”. X-rays had revealed that Tollund Man’s cervical vertebras were not broken but despite of that the forensic examiner was certain that the man had been hanged. The reason is that he’d been hanged in a way which caused death by suffocation, rather than method of breaking neck. |
Some day I will go to Aarhus |
Context of Tollund Man's Death
We are still unsure about context of his death, though it is presumed that Tollund Man was a sacrificial victim dedicated to the Spring goddess. He was found with an iron neck ring which was symbolic of the Spring goddess, his body had been placed in a foetal position showing that he was respected and well treated after his passing, an indication that he was not a common criminal and he now belonged to the gods. In addition, a small statue doll of the spring goddess was found near his body, confirming that Tollund Man was a gift to the gods.
Sacrificed in winter so that the spring gods may return. His diet is indicative that he was killed around this time. |
Physical Appearance of Tollund Man
![Picture](/uploads/5/9/0/2/59020319/4663904.png?250)
The man was only wearing a pointed leather cap, made of sheepskin, and thin leather belt. These were the only remaining clothing on the mans person.
Only other clothing was a leather rope tied into a noose around his neck.
The defining factors in his appearance are:
- Clean shaven
- 30-40 years old at death
- 1.6m tall
- internal organs intact
- Last meal – soup of barley and seeds