The Tollund Man, a remarkably preserved bog body discovered in Denmark in 1950, offers a rare glimpse into the distant past. His remains, found in a peat bog, were so well-preserved by the bog’s acidic, oxygen-poor conditions that authorities initially suspected a recent murder. This natural mummification allowed researchers to study his final moments in detail. The circumstances surrounding his death remain a subject of ongoing investigation, but his last meal provides unique insights into Iron Age life.
The Contents of the Meal
Analysis of the Tollund Man’s stomach and intestines revealed his last meal was porridge, consumed approximately 12 to 24 hours before his death. The primary plant-based ingredients included barley, flax, and various wild weed seeds. Recent scientific examination also indicated the presence of fish.
The meal contained 335 grams of barley grains, 29 grams of pale persicaria seeds, and 16 grams of flax seeds. While barley and flax were cultivated crops, pale persicaria grew as a weed and was likely harvested along with the grain. Traces of about 20 other plant species were found, but these made up less than 1% of the meal and were probably unintentional inclusions.
Culinary Practices and Health Insights
Evidence suggests the porridge was cooked in a clay pot, indicated by charred food crusts found within his gut. The presence of sphagnum leaves, wetland plant seeds, and algal remains indicates that the meal was likely prepared with water drawn from a lake, pond, or bog. This use of bog water or other natural water sources was a common practice in the Iron Age.
The meal also contained “threshing waste,” including wild weed seeds, sand, and charcoal fragments. These impurities were typically removed during the grain cleaning process, suggesting they were either accidentally included or intentionally added. The inclusion of such waste could reflect common Iron Age cooking practices or potentially a ritualistic element, a question still debated among researchers.
Further analysis of the Tollund Man’s gut contents revealed he was infected with three types of intestinal parasites: tapeworm, whipworm, and mawworm. Whipworm and mawworm points to poor hygiene, as these parasites are spread through contaminated food and water. Tapeworm infection likely resulted from consuming raw or undercooked meat.
The Meal’s Significance
The Tollund Man’s final meal offers a window into Iron Age society. Despite his death’s circumstances, which many believe was a ritual sacrifice, his meal was surprisingly ordinary and nutritious. It was a substantial meal, providing potentially half of his daily caloric intake, indicating it was not consumed during a period of food scarcity.
The inclusion of threshing waste also raises questions about ritualistic purposes, especially given similar findings in other bog bodies like the Grauballe Man. Without more comparative data from other Iron Age meals, definitively determining its role remains challenging.
The analysis of the Tollund Man’s last meal provides valuable insights into the diet, daily life, and health conditions of people living over 2,400 years ago. This specific information, derived from advanced scientific techniques, enhances our understanding of the Iron Age in Denmark.