Editing Lindow Man (section)

===Cause of death===
[[File:Lindow man top of head.JPG|thumb|right|The top of the Lindow Man's head. The V-shaped cut can be seen at the lower centre.]]

As the peat was cleaned off the body in the laboratory, it became clear that Lindow Man had suffered a violent death. The injuries included a V-shaped, {{convert|3.5|cm|in|adj=on}} cut on top of his head; a possible laceration at the back of the head, ligature marks on the neck where a sinew cord was found, a possible wound on the right side of the neck, a possible stab wound in the upper right chest, a broken neck, and a fractured rib. [[Xeroradiography]] revealed that the blow on top of the head (causing the V-shaped cut) was caused by a relatively blunt object; it had fractured the skull and driven fragments into the brain. Swelling along the edges of the wound indicated that Lindow Man had lived after being struck. The blow, possibly from a small axe, would have caused unconsciousness, but the victim could have survived for several hours afterwards. The ligature marks on the neck were caused by tightening the sinew cord found around his neck, possibly a garrotte or necklace.<ref>{{Harvnb|Joy|2009|p=39}}</ref>

It is not possible to confirm whether some injuries took place before or after death, due to the body's state of decay. This is the case for the wound in the upper right chest and the laceration on the back of the skull.<ref>{{Harvnb|Joy|2009|pp=39, 42}}</ref> The cut on the right of the neck may have been the result of the body becoming bloated, causing the skin to split, but the straight edges of the wound suggest that it may have been caused by a sharp instrument, such as a knife.<ref>{{Harvnb|Joy|2009|p= 43}}</ref> The ligature marks on the neck may have occurred after death. In some interpretations of Lindow Man's death, the sinew is a garrotte used to break the victim's neck. However, Robert Connolly, a lecturer in physical anthropology, suggests that the sinew may have been ornamental and that ligature marks may have been caused by the body swelling when submerged. The rib fracture may also have occurred after death, perhaps during the discovery of the body, but is included in some narratives of the Lindow Man's death.<ref>{{Harvnb|Joy|2009|pp=42–43}}</ref> The broken neck would have proven the fatal injury, whether caused by the sinew cord tightening around the neck or by blows to the back of the head.<ref name="Joy 44">{{Harvnb|Joy|2009|p=44}}</ref> After death, Lindow Man was deposited into Lindow Moss face down.<ref>{{Harvnb|Joy|2009|p=38}}</ref>