Was the Tollund Man Hanged?

Was the Tollund Man hanged - or strangled with a rope? Extra large picture. More illustrations. © Niels Bach

The Tollund Man with the rope around his neck. Big picture

The forensic examiners's report states among other things that "the robe, 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 since that sometimes happens when a person is hanged".

X-rays had revealed that the Tollund Man's cervical vertebras were not broken but despite of that the forensic examiner was certain that the man had been hanged. Later examinations done by other doctors proved that he was right.

New examinations reveal among other things that his tongue had become distended - a characteristic often seen in a hanged person.

At the time of the Tollund Man there were various burial customs in Denmark, but the one thing they had in common was that cremation was part of them all - except for the small group of people who were sacrificed. They were placed in the bogs without being cremated. That is also why it's most likely that the Tollundmanden was sacrificed to the gods.

The Tollund Mans rope reconstructed. Big picture

After the hanging the Tollund Man was cut down from the tree and carried to the bog. In the peat bog an excavation had already been emptied of water. The grave was located right next to a pathway paved with planks which cut across the bog. Tollund Man was carefully and respectfully placed in the grave because now he belonged to the gods. His eyes and his mouth were closed as if he were asleep. Within a short period of time the water rose in the grave and it soon covered him. The gods had accepted their sacrifice.

The Tollund Man was carefully and respectfully placed in the grave. Extra large picture. More illustrations. © Niels Bach