Lindow Man arrives at Great North Museum

Jul 29 2009 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

A FAMOUS face from ancient history took up residence in Newcastle yesterday.

The body of Lindow Man, remarkably preserved after 2,000 years in a Cheshire peat bog, will be the focus of the Great North Museum’s first major exhibition, which opens on Saturday until November 29.

Nicknamed Pete Marsh, he is on loan from the British Museum. Newcastle is the only city in the UK, apart from Manchester, where he has been on show.

Lindow Man was discovered in August 1984 when workmen were cutting peat at Lindow Moss bog.

The bog conditions meant that the man’s skin, hair and many of his internal organs are well preserved.

He is housed in a special case which allows temperature and humidity to be carefully controlled so that no decay takes place. Great North Museum curator Steve McLean said: “We are thrilled to get this amazing loan from the British Museum, particularly on the 25th anniversary of his discovery and we are looking forward to the response of our visitors to this fantastic exhibition.”

Lindow Man was accompanied on his journey to Newcastle by Jody Joy, curator of Iron Age collections at the British Museum, who has written a book on the man from the distant past.

He said that Lindow Man had suffered two blows to the top of the head and another to the back of the head.

A cord made from animal sinew was around his neck, which may have been used to garrote him, or could have been a necklace or even a tether.

Lindow Man’s neck had been broken and there is also a wound, which may have been caused a knife or could have developed in the bog.

Mr Joy said that Lindow Man may have been a ritual sacrifice, or could have been murdered and robbed or was an executed prisoner of war.