Tollund Man
Summary
Host Patrick Wyman examines the life and death of Tolund Man, an Iron Age bog body discovered in Denmark in 1950. Through isotopic analysis and historical context, the episode reveals he was a local farmer killed by neighbors in a violent, pre-state society. Wyman argues against ritual sacrifice, suggesting his hanging resulted from endemic interpersonal conflict rather than religious ceremony.
Topics discussed
Sponsor message from OnDeck
Dramatic reenactment of a bog body hanging
Introduction to Past Lives podcast
Discovery of Tolund Man in 1950
Preservation and conservation of the remains
Physical analysis: age, health, and cause of death
Context of the Pre-Roman Iron Age in Scandinavia
Social structure and endemic violence in small communities
Pit zone fortifications and defensive settlements
Analysis of Tolund Man's final meal
Theories on his death: sacrifice vs. local conflict
Conclusion, next episode preview, and credits
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