Researchers reconstruct face of battle-scarred 'Conquest Man' who was neither Norman nor Saxon but probably Scandinavian

DNA analysis of 'Conquest Man' revealed substantial continental European ancestry, while three apple-wood staffs buried beside him hint at Scandinavian roots.

Buried around 1079 in a church belonging to one of William the Conqueror's own knights, the battle-scarred warrior was aged 50 to 60 with multiple healed fractures.

Dubbed Conquest Man, the skeleton was unearthed at St Peter's Church in Barton-upon-Humber, Lincolnshire — the private church of one of William the Conqueror's knights — and DNA, isotope and skull-shape analysis now points firmly to Scandinavian origins.

His oak coffin was made from a tree felled around 1079, meaning he was born under Viking King Cnut and died in his 50s or 60s after surviving the Conquest.

Three apple-wood staffs — sacred in Scandinavian tradition — were placed in the grave alongside him, while his head lay on a grass pillow supported by a pair of chalk fragments sourced locally.

Kevin Booth, English Heritage's head curator of collections, says: 'He's a fascinating survivor of a cataclysmic period in history — it feels like we can almost speak to him.'

aol.co.ukResearchers find Britain’s 11th-century ‘Conquest Man’ was Scandinavian – but did he land with the Norman army?The IndependentResearchers reconstruct face of man who lived through Norman Conquest - The Independent The TelegraphFace of ‘Conquest Man’ revealed after 1,000 years Daily MailExperts recreate face of a man who lived through the Norman Conquest AOL News UKResearchers reconstruct face of man who lived through Norman Conquest thetimes.comIs this the face of a man who witnessed the Norman Conquest? - The Times

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