Map & bible hold vital clues to identify mysterious ‘Man in the Woods’ 45 years after skeletal remains of tourist found
A MAP and a bible hold vital clues to identify a mysterious “Man in the Woods” 45 years after his skeletal remains were found.
So-called “Glamorgan Man” was found in the remote Rheola Forest near Port Talbot in south Wales on December 9, 1979.
Cold case charity Locate International said he was a possible visitor from South Africa.
He is believed to have died between nine and 18 months before he was found.
A Salvation Testament bible was found along with Glamorgan Man’s skeletal remains.
The bible bore the name D MALAN and a partial address in Randburg near Johannesburg in South Africa.
Detectives also found handwriting on an envelope outlining plans for an internal flight within South Africa to Durban.
The handwriting appeared to match the inscriptions on the bible, Locate said.
Other clues found on the body include a include a commemorative bookmark for a Christian mission in King William’s Town, now known as Qonce.
Another was a South African Airways timetable of flights from London to Johannesburg dated 1977.
A small amount of cash in US and Canadian dollars suggested the man was a frequent traveller.
He also had a map of south Wales and some blank headed notepaper from the Heathrow Sheraton hotel.
Glamorgan Man was aged between 40 and 60 years old, according to the new appeal.
He was of a stocky build and between 5ft8 inches and 5ft10 inches tall.
The man is likely to have walked with a heavy limp as his right knee was fused when his remains were discovered.
He may also have worn dentures as he did not have teeth, the volunteer investigators say.
Glamorgan Man wore brown twill trousers with a size 30″ inside leg, a blue shirt, a light brown V neck jumper size 40” chest, grey socks and brown size 8 shoes.
He had a holdall containing grey trousers, two more shirts and a pair of green socks.
Detectives are confident someone in Wales or South Africa will remember him, despite the passage of time.
Locate’s CEO Mark Greenhalgh said: “He would have stood out to anyone who encountered him at the time.
“Think back to 1978 and where you were at that time, and who you knew.”
In a fresh appeal, Greenhalgh added: “Who could you ask that might be able to help?
“Even the smallest piece of information you have can make a difference, and help return Glamorgan Man’s identity after all this time.”