Archaeological discovery in Denmark
Researchers from the University of Gothenburg have made a fascinating archaeological discovery in Denmark. These are the remains of a man who lived five thousand years ago and was killed with a club. This finding has generated great interest and has opened up new perspectives on the history of the population of northern Europe.
The life of Vittrup’s home
Vittrup Man was born on the Scandinavian Peninsula near the Arctic Circle. He was a Neolithic hunter gatherer and lived in an agricultural society more than a thousand kilometers from home. Despite being a foreigner in this Danish society, his death is what has caught the attention of investigators.
A violent sacrifice in the form of a ritual
The Vittrup man was killed with eight club blows to the skull. The main hypothesis is that it is a violent sacrifice in the form of a ritual. This type of sacrifice was common at that time and the bodies were abandoned in the swamps. The study of the remains has allowed researchers to obtain valuable information about the cultural and religious practices of that time.
A stranger in a strange land
Vittrup’s man was a foreigner in the Danish society where he died. Researchers don’t know exactly why he came to this strange land. He could have been an immigrant, a trader, or even a prisoner forced to work as a slave. Their presence in Denmark and their different genetic characteristics from individuals in Neolithic Denmark are an enigma that continues to intrigue researchers.
A life dedicated to fishing and agriculture
Vittrup man began his life as a hunter-gatherer near the sea. Genetic studies have revealed that he shared ancestry with other Scandinavian hunter-gatherers. However, when he was 18, he began living in a Danish agricultural society and changed his diet to include agricultural foods such as sheep and goats.
A fascinating discovery
The remains of Vittrup Man were discovered in 1915 at the bottom of a bog in northern Jutland. This discovery has allowed researchers to obtain valuable information about the life and death of this individual. The remains can currently be seen at the Vendsyssel Historical Museum in Denmark.
