Tollund Man Essay

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Explain using all the available evidence; explain how and why Tollund Man was killed. The evidence provided by various sources suggests that the Tollund Man may have been killed as a sacrifice for a Northern German tribe god named Mother Earth, the Goddess of Spring and growing crops. These sources include written accounts by historian Cornelius Tacitus, the noose that was found around his neck, scientific reports, examinations and x-rays on the body and several other discoveries of bodies preserved in bogs, leading to archaeologists concluding that it was a sacrificial offering from the Iron Age, further providing details on how the Tollund Man may have died. With the details provided from different sources, a more conclusive statement can be stated on how and why the Tollund Man was killed. Firstly, written accounts from Cornelius Tacitus state that the Tollund Man’s death may have been linked to a North German religious tribal custom. It is noted in Tacitus’ account that the people of North Germany acted as sacrifices to the Goddess of Spring and the tribe believed “each spring she rode through the tribes” then have cleansed herself in a “hidden lake “before “returning back to her holy wood”. He also writes how the process of cleansing the statue of the Spring goddess was most likely carried out by slaves whom were later to be sacrificed to the God as human prizes. This procession meant that the statue would be carried into a wooden cart, pulled by the slaves and then buried with the slaves later on. Given that the small statue of the God was found near the Tollund Man’s body, it is reasonable to conclude that Tacitus’ account provides a thorough understanding as to why the Tollund Man was killed. Secondly, scientific reports on the Tollund man’s body, hint that he was killed as a sacrifice. Forensic experts were able to extract the stomach and intestines of

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