Tollund Man in brief

Tollundmanden var ca. 160 cm høj, og han var mellem 30 og 40 år gammel da han døde. Han var slank, og alt tyder på, at han var sund og rask. Undersøgelserne af tarmindholdet viste dog, at han havde piskeorm. Der er et par ar efter helede snit og stiksår på den ene fodsål, som hos en person, der nogle gange går på bare fødder. En fingerknogle viser spor efter et helet brud. Ellers er der, bortset fra de skader hængningen forårsagede, ingen synlige spor efter vold.

På Tollundmandens hoved var håret klippet kort, 2–3 cm langt. Den røde farve stammer fra mosevandet, så hans rigtige hårfarve kender vi ikke, lige som vi heller ikke kender hans øjenfarve. Han er blevet barberet kort tid inden sin død, og de korte skægstubbe ses tydeligt på hans hage og overlæbe.

When Tollund Man died, he was about 160 cm tall and 30-40 years old. He was slim and everything suggests he was in good health when he died. However, study of the intestinal contents revealed he had whipworm. A few healed scars were found on a sole of one foot, caused by puncture wounds and cuts, something that people who sometimes walk barefoot are prone to get. A finger bone shows sign of a healed fracture. Apart from the damages caused by the hanging, there are no visible signs of violence.

The hair was short, 2-3 cm long. The red colour is due to the influence of the bog water – we do not know his original hair colour, just as we do not know the colour of his eyes either. He was shaved shortly before his death and the short stubbles are clearly visible on his chin and upper lip.

When he was deposited in the bog, he was apparently only wearing a cap of sheepskin, sewn together by seven pieces, a skin belt that had an oblong cut through in which the other end of the belt had been pulled through and secured with a loop, as well as a hanging rope.

Recent investigations have found textile fibers by the pelvis. As of yet, it has not been possible to establish whether this is old or a recent contamination.