Source/Archive record SCH2720 - Preliminary Report of the Lindow Moss Excavations 1987

Following the discovery of the remains of bog bodies in 1983 and 1984 (Lindow I and Lindow II/Lindow man), the remains of a third body was recovered at Lindow Moss during commercial peat extraction in 1987 (Lindow III). In the same year, an excavation (see ECH6985), together with sampling of the peat, was undertaken in the area of the location of the body (trench 1). Two further trenches (trenches 2 and 3) also investigated two sand islands projecting into the peat on the western fringes of the moss which were considered good candidates for the location of potential settlements contemporary with the bog bodies. Another aim was to investigate the relationship between the sand islands and the surrounding peat. Geophysical survey failed to locate any buried features and no evidence of structures/settlement contemporary with the bog bodies was found, however, a small scatter of flints (CHER 1474/0/2) consisting of circa 20 pieces, were recovered from the larger, eastern island (trench 3). The flints are thought to derive from two or three cores and included two large blades and one scraper, suggestive of a Neolithic date. A charcoal rich soil horizon, sealed by a layer of peat, was recorded on the smaller, western island, in section and in a small trench (trench 2) dug to further examine the deposit; samples of charcoal taken from trench 2 gave a radiocarbon date of 3970-3640 cal BC. A similar deposit was also encountered on the eastern island at the junction between the peat and sand.The charcoal layer is thought to represent a clearance episode in the Neolithic period and may be also broadly contemporary with the deposition of the flints.