Thread by @fakehistoryhunt

In the 1980s the body of a 40 year old man was dug up in St Bees Priory, Cumbria, it was in incredible condition.
He very likely was Anthony de Lucy, 3rd Baron Lucy, who died in 1368.
Here is an innocent picture of the priory.
Fair warning, next pictures will be of the body.
🧵

I warned you.
Yes, this really is a medieval man, dead for centuries.
You can still see his beard and even eyes.
But also the wrinkles on his hand and he still had fingernails.
His body still contained liquid blood.

X-ray examination showed several serious fractures to his jaw and ribs.
The blood found was in his chest cavity, also a sign of trauma.
Autopsy showed his fractured ribs had punctured his lung.
An unpleasant and painful way to die.

His stomach contained oats and raisins, perhaps porridge was his last meal.

His body had been so well preserved because it has been wrapped in linen, soaked in pine resin and wrapped in lead.

Anthony de Lucy probably died in Eastern Europe, which may explain why he had been so well wrapped up, his body had to travel all the way back home.
The resin kept air out, the lead kept the water out and he was not embalmed.

De Lucy was reburied.
If you want to know more, find episode 1 of series 2 of the programme 'Medieval Dead'.
An excellent show where most of the pictures of this thread came from.
imdb.com/title/tt2986262

More info;
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Bees_M…

PS here's another mini thread I did on another episode of 'Medieval dead';