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details such as eyelashes and eyebrows became visible. The skin was supple and the only major work needed to be done was to remove some dried-out scum from the hair. It was decided to use the same process on Lindow Man.

The treatment of Lindow Man pro- ceeded in a similar way. The freeze-drying process made any residual peat easy to remove, any smell that the body had had disappeared. Linear shrinkage was less than 5 per cent. Since the conservation four years ago Lindow Man has been stored in a specially constructed showcase where the relative humidity and temper- ature are controlled and there is a low level of light free of ultraviolet radiation. Thanks to conservation, he has become one of the most popular- exhibits at the British Museum.

vox P O P U L I

A Polar bear in Mexico City: how come?

Yani Herreman

A little while ago the Natural History Museum in Mexico City celebrated its twenty-fiffh birthday. We use the word ‘celebrate’ advisedly, as the architect Yani Herreman, Director of the Museum and member of the editorial Advisory Board of our review, ex- plains.

Our museum is a very special one. It iden- tifies so completely with its public and staff that wonderful things are always happe- ning there: artists, students, clowns, pup- pets, biologists and artisans work free of charge in the Sunday workshops which are known as ‘birthday Sundays’. Fantastic! Visitors, employees and people of good will get together to entertain and enjoy them- selves. Every weekend is a success. The impact of the museum on the public - and vice versa - is amazing. In passing, I

should mention that an enormous polar beartowersabove the other objects on dis- play. This specimen, which was awarded a prize for the largest cranium of a trapped bear, is the property of a wealthy notable who kindly lent it to the museum. A year ago the owner asked for it back. When the public found out, there was almost a revo- lution. On the day when (in theory) it was going to be taken back, a wall of children emerged to prevent it from leaving, and from that moment they bombarded the au- thorities with letters pleading for it to re- main. I should add that the gangs of young delinquents living in the neighbourhood sent a message to the effect that the bear was not to be touched because it belonged to them, as did the museum! I believe that there are few museums that are so close to their public.

‘Man is only completely human when he is at play.’

f riedrich von Schillei

The May 1991 issue of the

looks at the phenomenon of play as e e e

rce in human and-

modern competitive sport.

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