The Life and Times of the Tollund Man
The Tollund Man
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Contents
Page 3: The Place of Discovery
Pages 4-5: How were Archaeologists able to date the body?
Page 6: What were the circumstances surrounding the body?
Pages 7-8: Explain how the body was able to be preserved for such an extended period of time?
Pages 9-10: What were the possible causes of Death?
Pages 11-12: What does the evidence reveal about their life and times?
Page 13: What are the ethical issues facing archaeologists in relation to human remains?
Page 14: What role has science played in assisting archaeologist’s reconstruct the past in relation to the body?
1: Place of Discovery
The Tollund Man is the naturally mummified corpse of a man who lived during the 4th century BC, during the time period characterized in Scandinavia as the Pre-Roman Iron Age. The Tollund man was discovered on May 6th, 1950 buried in a peat bog close to Bjældskovdal, an area located approximately 10 kilometers west of Silkeborg, Denmark.[1] The bog was just outside Tollund, hence the name the Tollund man. This area is occupied with murky peat bogs, which in the Iron Age were used as burial grounds for those who were sacrificed.
Map: the town of Silkeborg
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2: How were Archaeologists able to date the body?
Through the years the Tollund Man has undergone a series of excavations: Autopsy and X-ray examination done by the forensic examiners at Bispebjerg Hospital, finger-print examination done by the police, several carbon-14 datings and CT-scanning at Aarhus district general hospital. More than 16,000 X-rays were taken of the Tollund Man using the latest techniques in CT-scanning, and 15 scientists are currently studying the latest examinations.[2] The specific dating method used by Archeologists to determine the age of the Tollund Man was 14C radiocarbon dating of his hair. Radiocarbon dating is a radiometric dating method that uses the naturally occurring radioisotope carbon-14
[pic]
Contents
Page 3: The Place of Discovery
Pages 4-5: How were Archaeologists able to date the body?
Page 6: What were the circumstances surrounding the body?
Pages 7-8: Explain how the body was able to be preserved for such an extended period of time?
Pages 9-10: What were the possible causes of Death?
Pages 11-12: What does the evidence reveal about their life and times?
Page 13: What are the ethical issues facing archaeologists in relation to human remains?
Page 14: What role has science played in assisting archaeologist’s reconstruct the past in relation to the body?
1: Place of Discovery
The Tollund Man is the naturally mummified corpse of a man who lived during the 4th century BC, during the time period characterized in Scandinavia as the Pre-Roman Iron Age. The Tollund man was discovered on May 6th, 1950 buried in a peat bog close to Bjældskovdal, an area located approximately 10 kilometers west of Silkeborg, Denmark.[1] The bog was just outside Tollund, hence the name the Tollund man. This area is occupied with murky peat bogs, which in the Iron Age were used as burial grounds for those who were sacrificed.
Map: the town of Silkeborg
[pic]
2: How were Archaeologists able to date the body?
Through the years the Tollund Man has undergone a series of excavations: Autopsy and X-ray examination done by the forensic examiners at Bispebjerg Hospital, finger-print examination done by the police, several carbon-14 datings and CT-scanning at Aarhus district general hospital. More than 16,000 X-rays were taken of the Tollund Man using the latest techniques in CT-scanning, and 15 scientists are currently studying the latest examinations.[2] The specific dating method used by Archeologists to determine the age of the Tollund Man was 14C radiocarbon dating of his hair. Radiocarbon dating is a radiometric dating method that uses the naturally occurring radioisotope carbon-14