St Bees Man: A Cold Case Review

Summary

St Bees Man was discovered in 1981 during an archaeological excavation of the south chancel aisle of St Bees Priory in Cumbria, England. His body was extremely well-preserved with pink tissue, blood present, and intact organs all observed during a forensic autopsy. This ‘cold case’ review shows the importance of balancing both archaeological and forensic techniques. In forensic archaeology, the handling of potential evidence, overall sampling strategy, and opportunity for further analysis are significant factors in the re-examination of archaeological cold cases. After providing background information on this case and analyzing previous research involving St Bees Man, new evidence is given for the mechanism of preservation in the burial environment using analytical techniques including XRF/EDS, textile analysis, and soil analysis. While efforts were made to preserve St Bees Man at the time of his death, many other factors influenced the remains, most significantly the inter-relationship of the lead, resin, shroud, soil, geology, and moisture in the burial environment. This presentation will consider the burial environment, preservation methods, adipocere formation, issues with exhumation, and the opportunity for interviews and further forensic analysis in an archaeological cold case along with the burden of proof for establishing an identity for St Bees Man.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage