Snärjd i mossen. En arkeologisk undersökning av de snärjda danska mossliken

Abstract

This essay examines the ambiguous nooses that have been found around the necks of nine Danish bog bodies. By analysing and comparing these bog bodies and their archaeological context with earlier theories the aim is to create a more profound understanding of the individuals themselves, and the societies they belonged to. The aim is also to further investigate the symbolic meaning of the noose by discussing the concepts of ritual, sacrifice and punishment. To analyse the bog bodies the agency theory and Guinevere Granite´s (2016) theoretical framework concerning reason of death and bog internment, are implemented. The overall conclusions that are established is that it is difficult to give one general answer that can explain why all the nine individuals ended up in the bog. There is often more than one possible explanation for reason of death and bog internment. Similar conclusions are drawn concerning the symbolic meaning of the noose, which at the end of the study remains ambiguous.