The curation and display of Lindow Man

Abstract

• Lindow Man is one of the best-preserved Iron Age bog bodies from Europe. Since his discovery in August 1984, he has been on almost permanent display to the public and the subject of close scientific scrutiny. This article focuses on the life of Lindow Man since his discovery, charting how his remains have been cared for and interpreted by curators and the public. Lindow Man is very well-known and provides a unique case study of how well-preserved wetland finds are curated and received. Over the more than three decades which have passed since he was first uncovered, he has played a role in informing and shaping the scientific study of bog bodies, relationships between museums across the UK, and debates around the ethics of displaying human remains.