The body of a man has been discovered in a peat bog at Lindow Moss near Wilmslow, Cheshire, England. Remarkably, the body is so well-preserved that the cause of death and the last meal can be easily identified.
According to scientists, when this corpse, known as Lindow Man, died, he was a healthy male in his twenties. Furthermore, this man may have held a high status in society at that time, as there is no evidence of him having engaged in hard labor.
To date, scientists have not pinpointed the exact reason why Lindow Man’s body has been so well-preserved under natural conditions. However, they have established the cause of death and proposed theories of a gruesome sacrificial ritual.
Lindow Man’s preserved body in the museum. (Photo: Ted-ed).
Accordingly, Lindow Man met a terrifying death, suffering multiple injuries to his head, neck, chest, and ribs. Most of the wounds were inflicted by blunt objects, but there were also some cuts on his neck and chest.
According to Anne Ross, a scholar of Celtic history, and Don Robins from the University of London, Lindow Man could have been a victim of a special sacrificial ritual. This is suggested by the presence of a piece of undigested burnt bread found in his stomach.
In ancient Celtic culture, selected victims for sacrifice would draw pieces of bread from a bag. The unfortunate individual who drew the burnt piece of bread would become the sacrificial offering. Additionally, scientists assert that it is highly likely that Lindow Man was sacrificed to invoke the aid of three Celtic gods to prevent a Roman attack against the Celts in 60 AD.
