Huldremose Woman: A Glimpse into Northern Europe's Iron Age

The Huldremose Woman, also known as the Huldre Fen Woman, is a female bog body discovered in 1879 in a peat bog near Ramten, Jutland, Denmark. On May 15, 1879, an unknown worker unearthed her remains after digging about a meter through the peat. Clad in wool and sheepskin, this over-40 warrior or sacrifice—her right arm severed—offers a gritty glimpse into the past of Northern Europe.

Carbon-14 dating analysis suggests that she lived during the Iron Age, sometime between 160 BCE and 340 CE. Her well-preserved, mummified remains are exhibited at the National Museum of Denmark, where her elaborate clothing has also been reconstructed and displayed at various museums.

Unlike many other bog bodies, which are often discovered naked, the Huldremose Woman was fully clothed and adorned with an array of accessories. These findings, including rare evidence of plant fiber textiles, suggest that the peoples of the Scandinavian Early Iron Age had advanced knowledge of textile weaving, dyeing technologies, and animal skin craftsmanship. Scientists at the Danish National Research Foundation's Center of Textile Research and the National Museum of Denmark have extensively studied her attire.

Intricate Clothing and Textile Mastery

The Huldremose Woman wore multiple layered sheepskin capes with the woolly sides turned outward. These were constructed with impressive complexity:

"The two skin capes are made from well-prepared, curly fleeces. The outer cape, measuring 82 cm in height and 170 cm in width, consists of five primary rectangular skin pieces, with two minor triangular inserts. Most pieces are dark sheepskin, but four light goatskin pieces are inserted on the fur side. The inner cape, slightly smaller (80 cm x 150 cm), consists of 7-8 primary sheepskin pieces and 22 secondary patches of sheep, goat, and deerskin. Both capes have an asymmetrical design with a slanting neckline."

Additionally, she wore a wool plaid scarf, fastened by a bird bone pin, and a wool plaid skirt. Scientific analysis determined that the skirt was originally blue or purple plaid, while the scarf was red plaid. Dye studies confirmed the use of natural plant dyes and mordants, with at least five different colors woven into complex plaid patterns.

Beneath her wool garments, impressions on her skin and degraded fiber remains suggest she wore a white inner garment made from plant fibers, reaching from her shoulders to below her knees. Though the exact fiber type remains uncertain, nettle fabric was a likely possibility based on other findings from the period.

Among her belongings, researchers also found a horn comb, a leather thong, and a wool textile headband, stored in what appeared to be a bladder-made pocket on her inner cape.

Origins and Trade Networks

In 2009, a research team led by Dr. Karin Frei conducted a strontium isotopic analysis on the Huldremose Woman and her clothing. The findings revealed fascinating insights into Iron Age trade and mobility:

• The wool scarf was locally sourced.

• The wool skirt contained material from at least three different regions, including Denmark and northern Scandinavia (Norway or Sweden).

• The plant fiber garment and the Huldremose Woman herself likely originated outside Denmark, showing compatibility with northern Scandinavia.

This suggests that textiles were traded or transported across vast distances, far more frequently than previously assumed.

The Huldremose Woman remains an extraordinary archaeological find, shedding light on Iron Age craftsmanship, trade, and cultural practices in Scandinavia.

#HuldremoseWoman #IronAge #Archaeology #BogBodies #AncientHistory #TextileHistory #DenmarkHistory #ScandinavianHeritage #ArchaeologicalFinds #LostInTime

Copyright IREPORTER NEWS.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from iREPORTER NEWS.
Contact: ireporterng@gmail.com