Celts and human sacrifice
The
Celts practiced
human sacrifice on a limited scale as part of their religious rituals. The evidence for this is as follows:
- Writings by Romans and Greeks (usually with a point to make) and often at second hand or hearsay
- Irish medieval texts
- Archaeological data
The most reliable evidence is certainly the lattermost. The
Lindow man is the best example: a human sacrifice from the
1st or
2nd century CE, preserved in a
peat bog in near perfect condition. The evidence for sacrifice is fairly incontrovertible: he was throttled, clubbed around the head and had his throat slit. This dovetails with the three-fold death detailed in medieval texts.
See also: Celtic mythology