In 2021, scientists examined the impeccably preserved contents of the Tollund Man’s stomach.
Researchers had previously identified the final meal of a mummified man, believed to have been consumed up to 24 hours before his death, which took place 2,400 years ago.
In 1950, peat cutters came across a well-preserved body in a bog about 12km west of Silkeborg, Denmark.
At the time, those who found him assumed the remains—later named the Tollund Man—belonged to a recent murder victim due to their astonishing state of preservation.
However, radiocarbon dating eventually verified that the Tollund Man was, in fact, an ancient relic.
This naturally mummified individual was a five-foot-three male who lived during the early Iron Age, around the fifth century BC.
He was discovered with a noose still fastened around his neck, sparking theories that he may have been sacrificed in a ritual.
Tollund Man is thought to have lives in fifth century BC.Silkeborg Museum
An autopsy verified that he had died by hanging, while the peat bog’s acidic environment played a key role in preserving his skeletal remains exceptionally well.
Surprisingly, Tollund Man’s brain and stomach also remained in remarkable condition.
In 2021, researchers re-examined the contents of his stomach to pinpoint exactly what his final meal consisted of before his passing.
The results of this study were officially published by Cambridge University Press in July 2021.
Nina H. Nielsen, head of research at Denmark’s Silkeborg Museum, led what National Geographic described as “the most thorough gut analysis ever performed on a bog body.”
Silkeborg Museum
The research paper, titled The Last Meal of Tollund Man, outlined how scientists applied advanced techniques to examine plant macrofossils, pollen, non-pollen palynomorphs, steroid markers, and proteins within his digestive tract.
These methods enabled them to determine his final meal, eaten 12–24 hours before his passing.
Nielsen highlighted the importance of this study, stating, “You can understand the general diet, but this research reveals exactly what he consumed on the day of his death.”
She explained, “That’s what makes it so fascinating—you get an intimate glimpse into exactly how it all unfolded.”
Their research revealed that Tollund Man’s final meal was a porridge made from barley and flax, along with a small portion of fish.
Furthermore, the study noted, “Proteins and eggs from intestinal worms suggest he was suffering from a parasitic infection.”
Interestingly, scientists also discovered pale persicaria seeds in his stomach—plants usually discarded as threshing waste during grain processing.
Food like barley, wild buckwheat and flax were found in the man’s stomach.Silkeborg Museum
The research proposes that the presence of threshing waste could be “linked to ritual customs.”
Although the idea that Tollund Man was sacrificed remains speculative, findings from his final meal provide further evidence that his death may have had a ceremonial aspect.
After conducting this in-depth study, Nielsen and her colleagues determined that technological progress continues to reveal fresh insights into ancient enigmas.
They assert that this research plays a crucial role in deepening our understanding of life and death in Denmark’s Early Iron Age.