Diet and Radiocarbon Dating of Tollund Man: New Analyses of an Iron Age Bog Body from Denmark

• DOI: 10.1017/rdc.2018.127
• Publication Date: 2018-11-19T05:13:59Z
• Authors: Nina H Nielsen; Bente Philippsen; Marie Kanstrup; Jesper Olsen
• Keywords: Accelerator mass spectrometry; Isotope Analysis

ABSTRACT Tollund Man is one of the most famous Iron Age bog bodies due to his well-preserved head. Since he was unearthed in 1950 Bjældskovdal, Denmark, has been subjected several scientific investigations, but until now no attempts reconstruct general diet through isotope analyses have conducted. Furthermore, previous radiocarbon ( 14 C) only able date him broadly 3rd–4th century BC. In this study, stable measurements (δ 13 C, δ 15 N) on bone collagen from Man’s femur and rib showed that terrestrial-based crops ate probably were grown manured fields. Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) C dates obtained both <30kDa >30kDa fractions ultrafiltered collagen. Results ultrafiltration removed contamination older substances burial environment. The dated 2330±23 BP, 2322±30 BP. These statistically agree with a previously published AMS age skin. By combining new skin it possible narrow down period 405–380 cal BC (95.4% confidence interval).