Since every body discovered in the bogs is unique, the range of such finds cannot easily be discussed in general terms. Therefore, it might be helpful to concentrate on one discovery and its implications, in an attempt to better understand the bog body phenomenon.
Lindow Man, or Lindow II, was the second body recovered from Lindow Moss (his predecessor--the head which helped induce Peter Reyn-Bardt's murder confession). He was discovered lying between two different layers of peat, suggesting that at the time of deposition the area had been a reasonably deep pool. His arms had badly deteriorated at a much earlier date, probably immediately after his death. The other parts of his body which were discovered in 1984 include his head, torso and right foot. Then, in 1988, a body originally labeled Lindow IV was found, consisting of the skin of the buttocks, part of the left leg, and both the right thigh and femur of a man; scientists now generally consider this to be just more of Lindow Man, as the pieces from both finds combine to form a single body. Using radiocarbon dating techniques, researchers have placed the body in a date range of 2 BC-AD 119 (Turner, 1995).
Lindow Man, along with the other Lindow bodies, has succeeded in capturing the public's attention through several outstanding physical characteristics which raise implications about his death. He was probably a man of status, judging from evidence of neatly trimmed hair, beard and nails, as well as possible evidence of body paint (although this last item has been hotly debated). It is impossible to tell whether or not he died by drowning since his lungs are no longer intact. All of the damage on his body could possibly (if not probably) have been caused through time by natural elements; however, many people interpret him as a victim of ritual sacrifice. One of the most common Celtic religious symbols is "triplism;" with Lindow Man, much has been made of his apparent triple death: 1)He seems to have been viciously strangled and garroted-his throat split from one end to the other; 2)His head bears evidence that he was bludgeoned by something like the blunt side of an ax blade; 3) His neck and torso reveal other marks, such as stab wounds, that can be explained by violent events. On top of this, his stomach contents include grains of mistletoe pollen mixed with the remnants of a simple grain cake. This has been taken as a possible Druid link. However, simply too much time has passed to be able to state absolutely under what circumstances Lindow Man met his end.
All of these curiosities have contributed to Lindow Man's enduring
celebrity status. Once again, R. C. Turner keenly analyzes the staying
power of this bog body's popularity. He comments:
"The sense of wonder [bog bodies] conjure up is combined with the feeling
that they have in some way cheated death, to live again. The forces behind
the violent and often complex deaths they suffered are beyond mere scientific
enquiry to convey." (Turner, 1995)