Once inside, visitors could marvel over "Ludlow Man," the body of a Kelt ritually murdered and preserved in a bog, a man whose stomach was found to contain mistletoe pollen from the drink administered, probably by Druids (to whom mistletoe was sacred), before his death. He was stunned by blows to the head, then garroted, and his throat was cut. Great exhibit for Halloween.
Later I visited the town of Ludlow, where this unfortunate victim was found. It’s a pleasant market town with nobody seemingly more bloodthirsty than thehunters who shot the six ducks hanging outside the butcher shop on the square.
Gold abounds in the British Museum’s prehistoric galleries, in the form of ancient money, bracelets, rings, necklaces, and carved objects like flagons. Silver, amber, and bronze objects, fine pottery, swords, even ancient costumes elicited "Oohs" and"Ahhs." One gold body-chain designed to circle a woman’s breasts and neck, then to adorn her back as well, could have come from the catalog of Victoria’s Secret.
The Museum is still free to everyone, but plenty of shillings were being spent on colorful books and souvenirs in its Forecourt Shop right off the lobby, despite the strong English pound that makes the American dollar and other European currency seem like play money. Another extremely elegant Museum shop just around the corner carried more expensive goods, like software and gorgeous silk scarves. The only time it was empty was during its closed period.
