What can we learn from Lindow man's remains?
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Lindow man 's blood type was O and the contents of his stomach indicate that his last meal consisted of a griddle cake, a pancake like food made of grain. Parasite eggs in his body show that he had a relatively high infestation of whipworm and man worm, but these would have caused him little inconvenience. He had slight osteoarthritis, a disease of the joints caused by wear and tear. Computerised axial tomography revealed changes in some vertebrae caused by stress and strains.
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Computerised tomography scans showed that the brain was still present. But when an endoscope was inserted to explore the interior of his skull, it became clear that no brain structure remained, only a mass of putty - like tissue. His teeth were healthy with no cavities and the skin was found to have a high copper content, suggesting that Lindow man's body had been painted prior to death. Electron microscopy revealed that his hair follicles were stepped, leading archaeologist to conclude that his hair was trimmed not long before his death with scissors or shears. Due to the hair being groomed and his smooth hands and manicured nails, archaeologists believe that Lindow man was a high member in society during his life time.
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