Our fascination with death has captivated humanity for centuries. From viewing mummies in ancient Egyptian tombs to browsing our own cemeteries, we are drawn to the macabre. This article takes a look into the world of creepy corpses on public display – a fascinating peak at some of history’s most unusual exhibits. We’ll explore the stories behind ten of these eerie displays, from the bizarre Viking ritual of ‘ship burials’ to a mummified nun thought to be almost 500 years old.
10 Creepy Corpses on Public Display: A Fascinating Look at History’s Most Unusual Exhibits
From mummies in Europe to “sleeping beauties” in Japan, corpses have long been on public display in some of the world’s most unusual exhibits. These eerie artifacts help us to explore our past and gain insight into both ancient and modern cultures. Here we take a look at 10 of the creepiest corpses on public display around the world.
1. The Soap Lady
The Soap Lady is quite possibly Philadelphia’s most macabre artifact and can be found at The Mütter Museum of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia. This corpse belonged to a woman who lived during the 1800s and, due to her unique condition, her body was transformed into a wax-like material resembling soap. It has been speculated that this was likely caused by an advanced form of saponification — a process that occurs when the fatty tissues of a corpse are exposed to alkaline materials.
2. The Bejing Mummies
In 1975, a team of archaeologists uncovered a series of mummies in China’s Liaoning Province, located just outside of Beijing. After carbon dating revealed that these mummies were over 4,000 years old, they were dubbed “the Beijing Mummies”. These bodies are believed to have belonged to members of an ancient nomadic tribe who had buried their dead in shamanistic rituals. They now make up an incredible exhibit at the Guanghua Temple complex and are some of the oldest mummies ever discovered.
3. The Moscow Mummy
Discovered in 1991, the Moscow Mummy is probably one of the world’s most mysterious corpses. Carbon dating shows that it dates back to the 15th century and is remarkably well preserved. What makes this mummy even more enigmatic is the fact that it is wrapped in a garb of unknown origin. Some speculate that it may have been used as part of an ancient ritual or as part of a religious ceremony.
4. La Doncella
La Doncella (or “the maiden”) is perhaps one of the most well-known corpses in the world. Discovered in Argentina’s Andes Mountains in 1999, this 500-year-old mummy is believed to have belonged to a girl of around 15 years of age. It is thought that she may have been sacrificed by the Incan people in order to ensure a successful harvest. Her remains are on display at the High Mountain Archaeological Museum in Salta, Argentina.
5. The Tollund Man
The Tollund Man is one of the most remarkable Iron Age mummies ever discovered. In 1950, two brothers stumbled across a perfectly preserved body in a Danish bog. Carbon dating later revealed that this 2,400 year-old corpse belonged to a man named Tollund, who had been hanged as a sacrifice to appease the gods. His remains are now on display at the Silkeborg Museum in Denmark.
6. The Egyptian Mummies at the British Museum
The British Museum houses some of the world’s most iconic artifacts, including a vast collection of ancient Egyptian mummies. One notable example is a mummified figure of a woman called ‘Henutmehyt’. Carbon dating reveals that she lived sometime between 960 and 715 BC. She was found in an elaborate coffin with hieroglyphic inscriptions, which suggest that she was likely a wealthy individual.
7. The Chinchorro Mummies
The Chinchorro people lived in what is now northern Chile and southern Peru some 7,000 years ago. They embalmed their dead with a unique technique, which involved desiccation and re-stuffing of the corpses with rags and ashes. Hundreds of these mummies were unearthed by archaeologists in the 20th century and now make up an incredible exhibit at the Museo Arqueológico San Miguel de Azapa museum in Arica, Chile.
8. The Sleeping Beauty Mummies
The ancient Japanese practice of mummifying those who died in deep sleep, known as ‘nikushibyo’, was first documented in the Edo period (1603 – 1867). The sleeping beauty mummies are made up of women who passed away while in a meditative trance, and their corpses were meticulously preserved and put on display in shrines across the country. There are now several of these mummies on display in various museums throughout Japan.
9. The Bog Bodies of Ireland
The bogs of Ireland have yielded some of the creepiest specimens in human history. These so-called bog bodies have been found in various states of preservation and are believed to have belonged to victims of ritual sacrifices, executed criminals or suicides. Some of these corpses have been carbon dated to as far back as 2,400BC. Several bog bodies can still be seen today in various Irish museums.
10. The Bog Mummies of Siberia
The frozen tundra of Siberia has yielded some remarkable finds, including several mummified remains dating back over 2,500 years. These mummies, which are believed to have belonged to nomadic Siberian tribes, are incredibly well preserved due to the cold temperatures in the region. Several of these can now be seen on display at the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.
From ancient Incan sacrifices to elaborate Iron Age burials, the creepy corpses on public display around the world offer an intriguing look at how different cultures have treated death throughout history. Whether it’s to learn about our past or to simply be amused by the bizarre, these remarkable artifacts will continue to captivate us for generations to come.