A review of the colour and condition of lindow man 20 years after conservation

The part body known as Lindow Man was found in a peat bog at Lindow Moss in August 1984. Following excavation the body was transferred to the British Museum, where it was examined and conserved, and has been on permanent exhibition since 1986. Concerns about lightening of the colour were raised ,first in 1989 and on several occasions since, and in 2004 a non-destructive examination was carried out. The history of colour monitoring of the body and associated experiments was reviewed, providing a more complete picture of the colour change, calculated as the CIE 2000 colour difference (ΔE ₀₀). The colour change was rapid in 1989-1997, (ΔE₀₀ 10.0, but much slower in 1997-2004, (ΔE₀₀ = 3.4, when the light level on the body had been 30-50 lux with less than 50 cWlumen1 of ultraviolet light. K/hen examined, the body was in good condition, the skin was flexible with no evidence of shrinkage or cracking. Analysis of samples of the polyethylene glycol applied during conservation by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that oxidation had occurred. The history of exhibition of the body, colour change over 20 years and condition of the body in 2005 are reported and discussed. Recommendations forfuture monitoring of the condition of the body and an approach to re-treatment are given.