What scientific methods or techniques were used to study the Tollund Man's remains?
Scientific Methods/Techniques Used:
X-rays & Autopsy Finger-print Examination CT Scan Carbon-14 Dating |
Discoveries
Forensic Examiners suspected that the Tollund man was a victim of murder due to the position of the rope around his neck. However through X-ray examinations forensic examiners were able to discover that the Tollund Man's cervical vertebrae were not broken, which is very uncommon for people who are hung. However examinations also showed that his tongue was also distended which is very common in victims who have been hung. Forensic examiners were also able to examine his internal organs such as his heart, lungs and liver, which were all very well preserved and were in very good condition.
In 1978, specialists in finger-prints examined the Tollund man's finger and foot prints. The Tollund man’s finger-prints were very well preserved in the pit bog, however the epidermis was no longer present. Forensic examiners believe that it was most likely decomposed in the peat bog. The specialists found that there wasn't much difference between the Tollund man’s finger-prints and modern day human finger-prints.
CT scans were performed at Aarhus district general hospital by police. The Tollund man and the Elling woman were both scanned during the same time, over 16000 pictures were taken, this method of examination allows scientists to thoroughly examine parts of the body without the use of a scalpel which may cause damage however only the head was scanned because the rest of the body was too dehydrated.
Carbon-14 dating was performed at Aarhus district general hospital by police. Because of Carbon-14 dating techniques, scientists were able to discover that the Tollund man died approximately 2400 years ago by examining a small particle of the Tollund man's nail.
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Forensic analysis of the body
Forensic examiners were also able to determine the foods that the Tollund man ate in his last few hours. The alimentary canal was removed and the foods from his last meal were still present. The content in the Tollund mans stomach and intestines had moved to his small intestines, which determines that the last time that the Tollund man ate was within 12-24 hours of his death. Pieces of barley and flaxseed, false flax and knotgrass was found, there were also around 40 other different seeds.
What has been learnt about the past from studying the Tollund Man?
Through the use of Carbon-14 dating, Scientists and forensic examiners were able to determine that Tollund Man lived during the early Iron Age. Carbon-14 examinations also show that Tollund Man didn't consume fish and meat as the level of carbon-13 in his body was very low. The presence of intestinal worms suggests that the level of personal hygiene was quite low during the time of the early Iron Age in Denmark.
The Tollund Man is believed to have been a sacrifice to please the gods as most bodies were cremated as a burial custom, except for a small number of people who were sacrificed to the gods and buried in peat bogs, without being cremated. This shows that strong religious beliefs and customs were present in early Europe as the Tollund Man was hanged as a sacrifice and then carefully placed in a peat bog as an offering to the Danish gods. This may have been a common ritual back then to present the body to the gods as whole rather than burnt.
The Tollund Man is believed to have been a sacrifice to please the gods as most bodies were cremated as a burial custom, except for a small number of people who were sacrificed to the gods and buried in peat bogs, without being cremated. This shows that strong religious beliefs and customs were present in early Europe as the Tollund Man was hanged as a sacrifice and then carefully placed in a peat bog as an offering to the Danish gods. This may have been a common ritual back then to present the body to the gods as whole rather than burnt.