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January 27, 2004

A murder in Carlisle

Seventeen-hundred year old remains of a murder victim are to feature in an exhibit considering death in Roman Cumbria.

The victim of a murder in Carlisle in the 3rd Century AD is to be part of an exhibition looking at the Roman way of death. His skeleton was found in a well in the city during the 1980s - he had been shot in the head and attacked with a sword. Archaeologists named him 'Duncan', and a £24,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund will fund a reconstruction of his face and exhibition at the Tullie House Museum in Carlisle.

Posted by Ghost of a flea at January 27, 2004 09:05 AM

Comments

"We are bringing together a 3rd Century mystery with 21st Century technology and it is sure to capture the imagination of Cumbrian residents".

He was shot in the head and attacked with a sword and apparently tossed down a well. I don't see how reconstruction of his "face" could explain the Romans' beliefs about death and burials?

Someone enlighten me please.

Posted by: Rue at January 27, 2004 10:18 AM

I think you are right. Actually, I had meant to include a remark about this being a better representation of contemporary Scottish ways of death but I forgot. This cold is making me slow!

Posted by: Nicholas Packwood at January 27, 2004 07:07 PM