| Elling Woman Human Mummy | |
| |
| Biographical Information | |
|---|---|
| Name(s) | Elling Woman |
| Age | Appx. 25 years |
| Sex | Female |
| Status | Unknown |
| Height | Unknown |
| Source | |
| Culture | Iron Age (350-100BCE) |
| Date(s) | Born c. 305BCE
Died c. 280BCE Discovered 1938 |
| Site | Bjeldskovdal Bog, Silkeborg, Denmark |
| Current Location | |
| Location | Silkeborg Museum |
| Catalog # | none |
The Elling Woman mummy is a pre-Roman Iron Age mummy that was discovered in 1938 in the Bjeldskovdal Bog near Silkeborg, Denmark. She is notable both for her proximity to another bog body, The Tollund Man, and her elaborate hairstyle.
Biography[]
Elling Woman lived in Denmark during the pre-Roman Iron Age (350-100BCE), and likely lived in a small, rural village. The exact reason behind her death is unknown, but possibilities include ritual sacrifice, murder, or execution, though most believe sacrifice is the most likely option. She was mistakenly thought a male at discovery until X-rays of her pelvis confirmed her to be female. She died after hanging, she is quite similar to other ritual sacrifices during the Iron Age, including Tollund Man. Her remains were discovered in Silkeborg, Denmark by a local farmer, Jens Zakariasson, in 1938.
Mummification[]
After her hanging, the Elling Woman was placed into the peat bog as a means of burial. Elling Woman is believed to be naturally mummified in the Bjeldskovdal bog, West of Silkeborg in Denmark. Her preservation levels were uneven, while the back of her body were in good condition, the front was degraded enough that it was impossible to tell the sex of the mummy at first. Her upper body was wrapped in one sheepskin cape, while her legs and feet covered by another sheepskin cape. She also wore a woven belt around her waist. The belt had a sliding knot.
Studies[]
In 1976, Elling Woman was subjected to Carbon-14 and X-ray tests.
Recreation of Elling Woman's hairstyle
This helped reveal her age at the time of death. Additionally, closer examination of the body allowed experts to notice a furrow on her chest.
Pathology[]
Cause of death was determined as hanging with a leather thong. The thong left a V-shaped ligature that is visible in her neck. No other contributing factors to her death have been discovered.
Additional[]
It is interesting to note the Elling Woman's clothes and hairstyle when she died, as this gives insight to the time period she lived in. Her clothes, such as her cloak and leather belt, confirm that these articles of clothing were very commonplace to that era and region. In addition, her hairstyle was a braided pigtail which was knotted at the neck, which may hold cultural significance. It extended almost a meter.
References[]
[1] (1997). Violence in the Bogs. Retrieved from http://archive.archaeology.org/online/features/bog/violence1.html
[2] (2004). Elling Woman. Retrieved from http://www.tollundman.dk/ellingkvinden.asp
[3] (30 June 2013). Tollund Man, Elling Woman and the Iron Age. Retrieved from http://www.museumsilkeborg.dk/Visningsside-7?Action=1&NewsId=277&M=NewsV2&PID=1501