Based on the descriptions provided by Tacitus, some scholars believe that the bog bodies were the remains

of executed criminals. Cornelius Tacitus was a first century roman historian who documented mortuary beliefs of bog bodies in a book written by him named Germania. In his writings Tacitus described how criminals, outcasts, and even disgraced people were punished for their criminal and deviant acts. The bog bodys means of death was either by torture, or execution. Some of the bodies found in the bogs were tortured, executed, and then submerged into the wetlands for extended periods of time. Tacitus addressed in his writings They hang traitors and renegades in trees, cowards, combat evaders and unnaturally immoral people they lower into filthy swamps and cover them with branches. Majority of the bodies found in the bogs have been associated with savage deaths despite their age, sex, or social standing or status. Majority of the bodies died from blunt-force trauma to the head, slit throats, decapitation and some corpses were even found with nooses still tied to their neck due to asphyxia. Even after death the violent acts to the bodies continued. Borremose Woman had her cranium destroyed by blunt-force after her death. The level of violence inflicted on many of the bodies far exceeded what was necessary to kill a person. The bog bodies do not seem to model the usual methods of disposing of the deceased. The intense method of their deaths and the way the bodies were weighted down into the wetlands suggest that perhaps these individuals were executed for criminal activity or deviant acts.

Some researchers considered that the remains of the bog bodies are evidence of human sacrifice dedicated to the ancient deities inhabiting the wetlands. The purpose behind the bog bodies is unknown to researchers still today. Many do believe that majority of the executions were due to sacrificial executions which also included shamans being killed in order to arrive in the next world. Celts believed that the wetlands were passage ways into the next world, which were occupied by their deities, perhaps these shamans were trying to pass through the portal of the underworld to travel to join their deities. Among the bodies found some had high social status such as the Harraldskjaer women. Due to the females preserved state, researchers were able to view in fine detail the womens small hands and feet, showing no calluses or sign of manual labor being performed in her lifetime. Even for others, the bog bodies were the remains of social outcasts such as adulterers, homosexuals, and people with different diseases. Tacitus described a girl who researchers describe as Windeby girl. This young woman was found buried next to a corpse believed to be that of her lover. The girl considered an adulterous was found with her head shaved, which was a common practice associated with shame. Some corpses discovered contained different diseases including tuberculosis, hernias, and even parasites. Among the bodies found some had physical deformations including osteoporoses and arthritis. Lindow Man was in his 20s but showed signs of whipworms and severe signs of arthritis. Another example is Yde Girl whom was found with fabric around her neck, perhaps suggesting asphyxiation. Yde Girl had some type of deformity in the curvature of her spine.

The first hypothesis seems to have more evidence pointing towards the deceased to have been criminals or deviants. More than half of the bodies found including Borre Man, Grauballe Man, Rendswuhren Fen man and Borre Woman 1 contained blunt force to the skull. The other majority of the bodies died due to asphyxia which included Tollund Man, Borre Fen Man, Elling Woman, and Lindow Man. The only reason why such methods would be socially acceptable would be to make an example to deter others from participating in acts that are forbidden. By allowing onlookers to watch, I believe this prevented some from participating in acts against the norm.