Grauballe Man

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The Grauballe Man is one of the best preserved bog bodies in the world. He was found on April 26, 1952, in a bog near the village of Grauballe in Jutland, Denmark, by someone who was digging for peat. Carbon dating has determined him to be from around 290 BC. The Grauballe Man is currently at display at Moesgaard Museum near Aarhus, Denmark.

Contents 1 Condition 2 Death 3 Modern culture 4 External links

[edit] Condition

The Grauballe Man is very well preserved with nails and hair in evidence. Even his fingers were in good enough condition to obtain his fingerprints. While his hair and beard is well preserved, it has been discoloured by time, as is his skin. No clothing or jewellery have been found near him.

[edit] Death

The Grauballe Man died from having his throat cut, but he also had a fractured cranium and leg. Why he was killed is not known. As with several other bog bodies, it is assumed that either a sacrifice or execution as punishment for a crime was the cause of his injuries. Recent scans have reconstructed his face and revealed a lot of facts about him, such as the fact that he was beginning to develop gout. Other than that, he appears to have been a healthy male, about 30 years old.

[edit] Modern culture

The Grauballe Man is the subject of a poem by Seamus Heaney.

[edit] External links

• The Grauballe Man – a brief description at the homepage of the Moesgård Museum
• The Grauballe Man – a poem by Seamus Heaney at the homepage of BBC NI Schools