Editing Tollund Man (section)

==Scientific examination and conclusions==
[[File:Tollundmannen.jpg|thumb|right]]

[[Radiocarbon dating]] of Tollund Man indicated that he died circa 405–380 BC.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Dating bog bodies by means of 14C-AMS |journal=Journal of Archaeological Science |date=1 April 2004 |volume=31 |issue=4 |pages=471–491 |doi=10.1016/j.jas.2003.09.012 |citeseerx=10.1.1.520.411 |last1=Van Der Plicht |first1=J. |last2=Van Der Sanden |first2=W.A.B |last3=Aerts |first3=A.T |last4=Streurman |first4=H.J|bibcode=2004JArSc..31..471V }}</ref> The preserved tender soft tissues of his body are the consequence of the [[acid]] in the peat, along with the lack of oxygen underneath the surface and the cold [[climate of the Nordic countries]]. The acid in the peat, needed for the preservation of a human body, is caused by a [[bryophyte]] named ''[[Sphagnum]]''. ''Sphagnum'' fights against degradation due to resistant [[Phenols|phenolic compounds]] contained in their cell walls.<ref>Reece, Urry, Cain, Wasserman, Minorsky, Jackson. "L'importance écologique et économique des Bryophytes". ''Campbell Biologie 4th Edition'' (2012): p. 705, 17 October 2014.</ref> Due to the acidity of peat, bones are typically dissolved rather than preserved.

Scientists conducted an [[isotope analysis]] of the element [[strontium]] to measure the exact quantities to get an accurate idea of where he may have travelled before his death. They took samples from his [[femur]] and hair to compare. They were only able to measure up to a year because of his hair being short. The results contained only small differences in strontium isotope proportions, suggesting that he spent his final year in [[Denmark]], and that he may have moved at least {{convert|20|mi|-1|disp=flip}} in his last six months.<ref name=Levine2017>{{cite news |last=Levine |first=Joshua |title=Europe's Famed Bog Bodies Are Starting to Reveal Their Secrets |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/europe-bog-bodies-reveal-secrets-180962770/ |work=Smithsonian Magazine |date=May 2017 |access-date=22 April 2021 |archive-date=22 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422125538/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/europe-bog-bodies-reveal-secrets-180962770/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Examinations and X-rays showed that the man's head was undamaged, and his heart, lungs and liver were well preserved. The [[Silkeborg Museum]] estimated his age as approximately 40 years and height at {{cvt|1.61|m}}, a relatively short stature even for the time. It is likely that the body had shrunk in the bog.

On the initial autopsy report in 1950, doctors concluded that Tollund Man died by [[hanging]] rather than [[strangulation]].<ref>Silkeborg Museum, [http://www.tollundman.dk/udseende.asp ''The Tollund Man's Appearance''] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719132454/http://www.tollundman.dk/udseende.asp |date=2011-07-19}}, Silkeborg Museum and Amtscentret for Undervisning, Silkeborg Public Library, 2004</ref> The rope left visible furrows in the skin beneath his chin and at the sides of his neck. There was no mark, however, at the back of the neck where the knot of the noose would have been located. After a re-examination in 2002, forensic scientists found further evidence to support these initial findings.<ref>Silkeborg Museum, [http://www.tollundman.dk/scanning.asp ''Latest Research''] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719132800/http://www.tollundman.dk/scanning.asp |date=2011-07-19}}, Silkeborg Museum and Amtscentret for Undervisning, Silkeborg Public Library, 2004</ref> Although the [[cervical vertebrae]] were undamaged (these vertebrae are often damaged as a result of hanging), radiography showed that the tongue was distended—an indication of death by hanging.<ref>Silkeborg Museum, [http://www.tollundman.dk/haengning.asp ''Was the Tollund Man Hanged?''] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719132658/http://www.tollundman.dk/haengning.asp |date=2011-07-19}}, Silkeborg Museum and Amtscentret for Undervisning, Silkeborg Public Library (SPL), 2004</ref>

The stomach and intestines were examined and tests were carried out on their contents.<ref name="Meal"/> Scientists identified the man's [[last meal]] as [[porridge]] or [[gruel]] made from grains and seeds, both cultivated and wild. Approximately 40 kinds of seeds were identified, but the porridge was primarily composed of four types: barley, [[flax]], false flax (''[[Camelina sativa]]'') and [[Polygonum aviculare|knotgrass]].<ref name="Meal">Silkeborg Museum, [http://www.tollundman.dk/sidste-maaltid.asp ''The Last Meal''] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170430002753/http://www.tollundman.dk/sidste-maaltid.asp |date=2017-04-30}}, Silkeborg Museum and Amtscentret for Undervisning, Silkeborg Public Library, 2004</ref> From the stage of digestion it was concluded that the man had eaten 12 to 24 hours prior to his death. Porridges were common for people of this time.<ref name="Meal"/> Because neither meat nor fresh fruit was found in the last meal, it is suggested that the meal was eaten in winter or early spring when these items were not available.<ref name="Meal"/>

Both feet and the right thumb, being well conserved by the peat, were also preserved in [[formalin]] for later examination. In 1976, the Danish police made a [[fingerprint]] analysis, making Tollund Man's thumbprint one of the oldest prints on record.<ref name="Prints">{{Cite web |url=http://www.tollundman.dk/fingeraftryk.asp |title=Finger-Prints |work=The Tollund Man – A Face from Prehistoric Denmark |access-date=22 September 2007 |publisher=Silkeborg Public Library |year=2004 |author1=Silkeborg Public Library |author2=Silkeborg Museum |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070923123956/http://www.tollundman.dk/fingeraftryk.asp |archive-date=23 September 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>