Scientists have finally solved a prehistoric cold case – 5,600 years after it happened.
The skeleton of the Porsmose man was found in 1946, in a peat bog near Næstved, Denmark, with arrows still embedded in his skull and breastbone.
Now his face can be seen for the first time since his mysterious death, after scientists probing his killing rebuilt his likeness from his bones.
In the process, they revealed something counterintuitive – that the fatal arrow was not the one in his face, but the one in his chest.
Forensic facial reconstructions are usually concerned with rebuilding the living faces of the dead using their skulls.
But Cicero Moraes, lead author of the new study, said this reconstruction was unique – capturing the death of the subject instead.
He said: ‘The objective is usually to know what the individual’s face looked like.
‘But in the present work, we were also interested in knowing what injuries could have been caused to the anatomical structure.’
Scientists have finally solved a prehistoric cold case – 5,600 years after it happened
The skeleton of the Porsmose man was found in 1946, in a peat bog near Næstved, Denmark, with arrows still embedded in his skull and breastbone
He added: ‘Although the arrow in the face is visually striking and uncomfortable, and could be fatal depending on the situation, it was the one in the chest that hit important structures.’
The study revealed that the fatal arrow, itself made of bone, had likely penetrated the man’s brachiocephalic vein, aortic arch, and right pulmonary vein, killing him.
To complete their work, the authors began by virtually rebuilding the bones of the Porsmose man, using photographs and measurement data.
Graphics expert Mr Moraes said: ‘We then reconstructed the face using forensic techniques, creating a bust that included the areas hit by the arrowheads.
‘In the chest area, where an arrow hit the sternum, we also reconstructed some other bones and the circulatory system.
‘So it was possible to assess where the fatal arrow had passed through.’
Mr Moraes said the resulting face was a ‘strong’ one.
At the time of death, the Porsmose man was 35 to 40 years old, and stood roughly 1.66m tall.
They revealed something counterintuitive – that the fatal arrow was not the one in his face, but the one in his chest
The study revealed that the fatal arrow, itself made of bone, had likely penetrated the man’s brachiocephalic vein, aortic arch, and right pulmonary vein, killing him
Mystery surrounds the circumstances of his killing, but after he was shot in the face and the chest, his body either fell into the water or was thrown there.
Whether he was executed, murdered, or fell in battle is lost to history.
The National Museum of Denmark, which houses his remains, imagined him as a murdered farmer in a post on social media.
It read: ‘While everyone is fast asleep, strangers enter the house. The dogs growl, but are silenced with clubs.
‘The strangers break into the courtyard and set fire to the thatched roofs of the houses.
‘He wakes the family and grabs his axe. Together, they escape the burning house. But there is chaos outside and he loses sight of his children.
‘He can see one of the strangers leaving with his wife. He runs after him with his axe raised.
‘But then he feels a searing pain in his chest and the light disappears.
Mystery surrounds the circumstances of his killing, but after he was shot in the face and the chest, his body either fell into the water or was thrown there
‘By the time the next arrow hits his face, he is already on his way to the eternal cornfields of his ancestors.’
The Brazilian team behind the new study comprises Mr Moraes, forensic dentist Thiago Beaini of the University of Uberlândia, dental surgeon Janaina Paiva Curi, and physiotherapist Lis Moura.
They were assisted with bibliographical references from the National Museum of Denmark.
They published their study in the journal OrtogOnLineMag.
HOW DO BODIES BECOME NATURALLY MUMMIFIED?
Tollund Man (pictured), who lived in the fourth century BCE, is one of the best studied examples of a ‘bog body’
Natural mummification is defined as the process by which the skin and organs of a deceased person or animal are preserved, without the introduction of chemicals by humans.
It is rare, and only happens in specific situations.
These include: extreme cold, arid conditions, or a lack of oxygen.
Naturally preserved mummies have been found deposited in deserts, buried in oxygen-poor peat bogs, and frozen in glaciers.
Some ancient societies accidentally encouraged this process, as they would paint the bodies and cover the deceased person’s face in a mask.
This provided an impervious layer which allowed the process to take place.
Throughout the UK, bogs provide the perfect environment for this to happen.
Tollund Man, discovered in Denmark in 1950, is one of the best studied examples of a ‘bog body’.
The man, who lived in the fourth century BC, was so well-preserved that he was initially mistaken for a recent murder victim.
