Because of future building plans a part of the Martinichurch graveyard had to be excavated. During this excavation the archaeologists found a wine barrel, with a skeleton in it. This is remarkable. But it gets even stranger. This person, a man of circa 30 years, was slain by an axe or sword. The unhealed head wound was clearly visible on his skull.
The municipality of Groningen thought this very special and decided to make a facial reconstruction of this face, to show the public that it was not only sweetness and light in those days.
The face of this man is reconstructed right after the attack, not dead but surely “stricken”.
![[en:]The skeleton in a wine barrel on the exhibition.[nl:]Het skelet in een wijnton in de tentoonstelling.[:]](https://skullpting.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/01-groninger-zwaardhouw-1.jpg)
![[en:]Skull with head wound.[nl:]Schedel met verwonding.[:]](https://skullpting.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/02-groninger-zwaardhouw-2.jpg)
![[en:]Facial reconstruction with head wound.[nl:]Gezichtsreconstructie met verwonding.[:]](https://skullpting.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/05-groninger-zwaardhouw-5.jpg)
![[en:Poster from RAAP, the excavation company, with information about the excavation.[nl:]Poster van RAAP, het opgravingsbedrijf, met informatie over de opgraving.[:]](https://skullpting.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/08-groninger-zwaardhouw-8.jpg)
