"He was murdered 1,400 years ago" Topic

"Researchers from the University of Dundee's Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification (CAHID) in Scotland have reconstructed the face of a Pictish man they showed to have been brutally murdered 1,400 years ago…"
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Amicalement
Armand

I have been looking for him. ;-)

Interesting discovery and in an iron workshop no less. I'm no expert, but would it be possible that the stones weighing down the victim's arms and legs were intended to keep him from reanimating and seeking vengeance on his killers? I recall reading that was one of possible explanations of why many of the famous bog bodies were pinned to the ancient lake bottoms with stakes.

Was he murdered or killed in a fight?

Considering that from what I have read that smiths were considered to be persons of power, the choice of burial places may have significance in addition to the way he was buried.

One for Cold Case Files.

I'd go with killed in a fight or raid, warriors tend to get better burials than murder victims and the pattern of wounds is classic quarterstaff technique. Top end strike to the head/jaw because your right hand is faster to get past his guard then follow with the butt end for the power hit while he's reeling, butt stroke to the head when he's down to finish him off. The fact that the killing blow was driven right through the skull also suggest a trained fighter who has the strength and skill to get the best out of his weapon.

Robert

Toaster – sorry, are you talking about the dead Pict, or a modern-day street brawl in Glasgow?