For Pete's sake, he's well over 2,000 years old; Great North Museum hosts Lindow Man.

Byline: Tony Henderson

AFAMOUS 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.

"We will be presenting the evidence and visitors will make up their own minds," he said.

Mr Joy said that Lindow Man fascinated visitors because he is so well preserved.

"You can pick out his facial features and character, and it brings him to life. He is the face of pre-history.

"He provides a tangible link to his times and to an era when nothing was written down.

"He comes from 2,000 years ago but he is very much like us. It is just that he lived at a different time."

Water held a special place in ancient cultures, with around 2,000 bog bodies having been recovered in Europe and valuable objects being placed in ponds and bogs as offerings.

The exhibition also features Iron Age objects such as a mirror made from polished bronze, hair-cutting shears and tweezers.

"It shows that people then were taking care about their appearance," said Mr Joy.

HE DIED AGED 25

LINDOW Man was around 25 when he was killed.

He weighed about 10 stone and was between 5ft 6ins and 5ft 8ins tall, with dark brown hair which has turned a ginger colour in the boggy conditions.

He was well groomed, with his moustache trimmed and his nails manicured.

His last meal was unleavened flat bread which had been overcooked. He had parasitic worms, a common condition where no sanitation system is in place, and also had mild arthritis in the lower back.

CAPTION(S):

STAR ATTRACTION Dr Sarah Glynn with Lindow Man. Below, a reconstruction of his face.