Tollundmanden 70 år

Medical examinations of the body

After Tollund Man had been comprehensively photographed following complete excavation at the National Museum, he was transported to the Bispebjerg Hospital on May 31 and handed over to consultant physicians Christian Bastrup and Bjovulf Vimtrup, who carried out a number of medical examinations. Already by the time of the excavation it stood clear that he must have been hung. The rope, still attached tightly around his neck, did not leave much doubt. The head and the upper part of the torso were x-rayed at the hospital. Due to advanced decalcification of the bones, the image of the neck vertebrae was not very clear, but Dr. Bastrup did not believe that these vertebrae were damaged. The image also revealed that the brain was remarkably well preserved, although much shrunken.

Next the organs were removed and examined. It turned out his interior were just as well preserved as his exterior. All organs were there, although the viscera had lost their original volume and had, due to the pressure of the peat, become flattened. The alimentary canal was of special interest, particularly the stomach and the intestines. They managed to extract ¼ l of stomach contents of what must have been his last meal. The main body of material was found in the large intestine, consistent with him having eaten twelve to twenty-four hours before he was hanged.

Upon the examination the head was dismembered from the body in order to try and preserve the head whereas the dismembered body was simply stored and, with time, allowed to shrink and become hugely deformed.