Tollund Man, a Dane who died 2500 years ago.



His body was discovered in 1950, and was so well preserved he was briefly mistaken by authorities as a recent murder victim.

May 1950, peat cutters Viggo and Emil Hojgaard discovered a corpse in the peat layer of the Bjœeldskovdal peat bog just west of the Danish town of Silkeborg Denmark.

The Tollund Man lay 60 m (200 ft) away from firm ground, buried under 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) of peat, his body arranged in the fetal position.

He wore a pointed skin cap of sheepskin and wool, fastened under his chin by a hide thong, and a smooth hide belt around his waist. Additionally, a noose made of plaited animal hide was drawn tight around his neck and trailed down his back.

He was 40 years old, died around 400 BC according to radiocarbon dating, and it was later determined his last meal consisted of a porridge with barley, flax, wild weed seeds, and some fish.

The cause of death has been determined as by hanging. Scholars believe the man was a human sacrifice, rather than an executed criminal, because of the arranged position of his body, and his eyes and mouth being closed.

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