Mummipedia Wiki
Register
Advertisement
The Nederfrederiksmose Man
Human Mummy
Nederfrederiksmose Man
Biographical Information
Name(s) The Nederfrederiksmose Man
Age Unknown
Sex Male
Status Unknown
Height 170-190cm
Source
Culture Middle-Age Danish
Date(s) 12th-13th Century
Site Fattiggårdens Moses, Denmark
Current Location
Location Old Norse Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark
Catalog # none

The Nederfrederiksmose Man was found north of Silkeborg, Denmark on May 25th, 1898 in the Fattiggårdens mose. Two workers found the body with a peat spade while working in the bog. All work was halted, and the authorities were contacted. The body was found wearing a Bronze Age style cloak. The man wore a kirtle of coarse woolen cloth, the legs were bare but on his feet he had short leather boots, laced over the instep. The boots are not preserved. Because of the boots, the find was originally dated to the 12th or 13th Century.

Mummification[]

The Nederfrederiksmose Man was found well preserved in a bog. Generally, the chemical composition and properties of a bog will decay the bones but preserve the soft tissues creating a leathery human corpse. The Nederfrederiksmose man was found lying on his back with his left eyeball and both ears preserved. He was also found with a full beard and long hair. His nails and skeleton were intact, along with other soft tissues; however, the inner organs were not identifiable.

Studies[]

Since the discovery of this bog body, many studies have been done on his clothing at the National Museum of Denmark, most recently in 1998.

Pathology[]

The body was found with torn skin and a broken right tibia accompanied by a callus knot. It was suspected, but never proven, that he was a passerby who fell into the marshes. Experts also suggest that because of his orientation in the ground, he was involved in a major battle and was buried there.

Additional Info[]

The Nederfrederiksmose Man was the first bog body to be photographed in its place of discovery. The in situ photograph of the bog body also known as Frederiksdal Man and Kragelund Man is the oldest of any bog body. The image was taken during the 1898 excavation.

External Links[]

References[]

Bodies of the Bogs: Nederfrederiksmose. (n.d.). Archaeology Magazine Archives. Retrieved March 15, 2017, from http://archive.archaeology.org/online/features/bog/neder.html

FREDERIKSDALMANDEN. (n.d.). Retrieved March 15, 2017, from http://www.frederiksdal-info.dk/frederiksdalmanden.htm

Kragelund Tunic. (n.d.). Retrieved March 15, 2017, from http://research.fibergeek.com/2014/09/10/kragelund-tunic/

Advertisement