Lindow man
Discovery
The Lindow man
One of England's only bog bodies, Lindow man (Lindow ii) was discovered by peat cutters on August 1st, 1984 in a peat bog known as Lindow moss, Cheshire, England. The peat cutters, however, did not discover his entire body. In fact they discovered the lower segment of one of his legs on the conveyor belt of the machine, which was believed to be the remains of Malika Reyn-Bardt. After a call to the local police station, the actual body was found. It is believed that the body was cut in half by digging machines six months before the discovery of the leg piece and the body itself. On the 6th of February, 1987, a large piece of skin (Lindow iii) was found. Following this, Archaeologists found over 70 pieces of bone and skin fragments. 50 feet (15 meters) west of the discovery of Lindow man, a right thigh of an adult male (Lindow iv) ,which had preserved tissue on the buttock was discovered on the 14th of June, 1988. It is assumed that Lindow iii and Lindow iv were part of Lindow ii.
Visual examination
When examined, investigators observed how poor the condition of Lindow mans body was. But that still didn't mean that they could not identify certain characteristics, like Lindow mans size and age which was revealed to be around 25 years of age and a length of 168 cm tall. They could work out the condition and color of his hair and mustache which was mainly a dark brown with slight traces of ginger, and was neatly trimmed. They also reveled that Lindow man's hands were well cared for, suggesting that he was someone of importance. The gruesome discover of how he met his end was also reveled; stab wounds on the neck and the torso. There was also one feature, which was a fox fur armband.
Scientific investigation
A few scientific techniques were used to reveal Lindow man's last meal and the way in which he died. These ' Techniques' consist of:
-Radiocarbon dating. Revealed that Lindow man died between 2 B.C. and A.D. 119.
-Scanning electron microscope. Revealed that the hairs on Lindow man had 'stepped' ends, suggesting that it was well trimmed with sharp scissors.Lindow man's stomach contained crushed barley, bran and wheat, as well as mistletoe pollen (which was used in the drinks of druid priests), sphagnum spores, and barley grains which he consumed before his death.
-Electron Spin Resonance (ESR). Revealed that he ate a burnt griddlecake before his death.
- Forensic analysis. Revealed that Lindow man's head was bashed in to a point where bone met brain, that he was strangled by a rope and that he was cut on the throat from ear to ear. A facial reconstruction of Lindow man was also made.
Visual examination
When examined, investigators observed how poor the condition of Lindow mans body was. But that still didn't mean that they could not identify certain characteristics, like Lindow mans size and age which was revealed to be around 25 years of age and a length of 168 cm tall. They could work out the condition and color of his hair and mustache which was mainly a dark brown with slight traces of ginger, and was neatly trimmed. They also reveled that Lindow man's hands were well cared for, suggesting that he was someone of importance. The gruesome discover of how he met his end was also reveled; stab wounds on the neck and the torso. There was also one feature, which was a fox fur armband.
Scientific investigation
A few scientific techniques were used to reveal Lindow man's last meal and the way in which he died. These ' Techniques' consist of:
-Radiocarbon dating. Revealed that Lindow man died between 2 B.C. and A.D. 119.
-Scanning electron microscope. Revealed that the hairs on Lindow man had 'stepped' ends, suggesting that it was well trimmed with sharp scissors.Lindow man's stomach contained crushed barley, bran and wheat, as well as mistletoe pollen (which was used in the drinks of druid priests), sphagnum spores, and barley grains which he consumed before his death.
-Electron Spin Resonance (ESR). Revealed that he ate a burnt griddlecake before his death.
- Forensic analysis. Revealed that Lindow man's head was bashed in to a point where bone met brain, that he was strangled by a rope and that he was cut on the throat from ear to ear. A facial reconstruction of Lindow man was also made.
How did he die?
Facial reconstruction of Lindow man
Like so many other bog bodies before him, Lindow man was murdered, and it is strongly suggested that he was sacrificed. The scientific analysis of Lindow mans body revealed that he liked to keep in good form, the trimmed hair and mustache are key examples. His hands revealed that he barely performed any labor. So it seems that he was an important person, perhaps a druid priest. The mistletoe in Lindow man's stomach emphasis this theory. Mistletoe in Druid society is regarded highly and is taken by druids, in drink form, to purify themselves and to ward of evil spirits. Other theories suggest that Lindow man was kept as a sacrificial victim until at last the druids gave him to the gods. Others believe that Lindow man was most likely used as a scapegoat of his local townsfolk who blamed him for the woes and unnatural problems in the village. Again, like other bog bodies, only one thing is certain. That the death of the Lindow man is a mystery and that the truth of his death may be unlocked in time.