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How should human remains be handled? The idea of casually discarding a loved one, such as placing them in a compost heap after death, is unsettling for many. Fortunately, humans have historically shown deep respect for the deceased. Across cultures, various rituals exist to honor the end of life, some of which diverge significantly from traditional burials. In certain cases, these practices even involve enhancing the appearance of the departed.
Discover ten unique methods through which human remains have been artistically enhanced.
10. For the Love of God
A recurring theme in European art, often perceived as morbid, is the concept of Memento Mori. These creations serve as stark reminders of mortality, emphasizing that death is an inevitable fate for everyone. Artists have frequently incorporated skulls into their works to highlight life's fleeting nature. Damien Hirst took this idea a step further with his provocative piece, For the Love of God.
Upon acquiring an 18th-century skull, he had its teeth extracted and professionally cleaned by a dentist. A precise replica of the skull was crafted, with platinum substituting the original bone structure. This platinum skull was then adorned with 8,601 impeccable diamonds, featuring a prominent pink gemstone on the forehead. The original teeth were meticulously reinserted into the jaw.
The striking, diamond-encrusted skull was offered for sale at a staggering £50 million.
9. Tezcatlipoca Turquoise Skull
Among the inspirations for Hirst’s embellished skull was the Tezcatlipoca Turquoise Skull housed in the British Museum. This 15th-century Aztec artifact is intricately covered with tiny turquoise, lignite, and seashell tiles. Its piercing eyes are crafted from polished pyrite, while the back of the skull is hollowed out and lined with deer hide. The jaw is loosely attached, allowing it to move freely.
The skull is believed to depict Tezcatlipoca, a deity linked to divination, obsidian, the night sky, and warfare. Attached straps, originally painted red, suggest it was designed to be worn, likely by a priest during ceremonial rituals.
Additional embellished Aztec skulls have been unearthed, with researchers determining that only the most elite individuals chosen for human sacrifice were honored by having their skulls transformed into these ornate masks.
8. Gobekli Skulls
Gobekli Tepe, located in Turkey, stands as one of the most fascinating ancient sites ever uncovered. Dating back to approximately 8000 to 9000 BC, it features some of the earliest known large-scale stone carvings, depicting lions, bulls, foxes, and various other animals, alongside intricate abstract designs. The largest stones at the site would have required dozens of individuals working for over a year to carve, with even more effort needed to transport them into place.
In addition to animal remains, which may have been used in sacrificial rituals, numerous human bodies have been discovered at Gobekli Tepe. These findings have led some experts to propose the existence of a “skull cult” at the site. This theory is supported by the presence of intentional carvings and markings on some of the skulls.
After the skin and flesh were removed from the skulls, deep grooves and holes were deliberately carved into the bones, possibly for ritualistic purposes. The intentional nature of these marks, along with the application of ochre pigment, suggests they were part of ceremonial practices. These skulls may represent the earliest known instances of decorated human remains.
7. Monk Encased in a Statue
A statue depicting a Buddhist monk from China found its way to a market in the Netherlands, where it was purchased by an admirer of its artistic appeal. When the buyer sought to have it restored, both he and the restorer were undoubtedly shocked to find a human skeleton concealed within.
In 2014, the statue was transported to a hospital for a CT scan, aiming to uncover more details about the individual who had been transformed into their own sculpture. The scans revealed that the 1,000-year-old remains were seated in a posture perfectly aligned with the statue’s form. The body is believed to belong to the Buddhist monk Liuquan, who passed away around 1100 AD.
Researchers inserted probes into the gold-coated statue and collected samples from the remains. They discovered fragments of paper inscribed with Chinese characters. The internal organs had been removed and replaced with these papers before the body was sculpted into the statue.
6. Kapala Skulls
The term 'Kapala' in Sanskrit can denote either a bowl or a skull repurposed as a ceremonial vessel. In Tibetan tradition, bodies were subjected to 'sky burials,' where the deceased were exposed to the elements, allowing birds and animals to consume the flesh. Once only bones remained, the skull was collected and transformed into an ornate object.
These Kapala skulls were ritually anointed with oils and prepared for use in various ceremonies. Some were intricately carved with images and patterns, while others were adorned with silver and gemstones. These skulls could be placed on altars or used as vessels for eating and drinking, believed to impart the wisdom and knowledge of the deceased to those who consumed from them.
To appease destructive deities, cakes shaped like human body parts were placed inside the Kapala and offered to vengeful spirits.
5. Bad Durrenberg Shaman
Today, the deceased are often laid to rest in their finest attire, but in ancient times, they were buried with items related to their trade, such as flint arrowheads for archers. Around 9000 years ago in Bad Durrenberg, Germany, a woman was buried in attire suggesting she was a shaman, highlighting her spiritual role in her community.
The Bad Durrenberg Shaman, a woman aged approximately 25 to 30, was discovered buried in a seated position, encased in dense red clay. Beside her lay the remains of a young infant. What sets her apart are the ceremonial items she was adorned with, including a remarkable headdress crafted from animal bones, teeth, and two roebuck deer horns.
Examinations of her remains indicate she had a neck deformity that likely restricted blood flow. By tilting her head in specific ways, she could induce fainting, which may have enhanced her role as a mediator between her community and the spirit world.
4. Dressing the Dead
On Indonesia’s Sulawesi Island, a festival known as Manene is held, where everyone, including the deceased, is expected to participate. During Manene, families clean their ancestors’ tombs and bring the bodies out into the sunlight. The corpses are then dressed in new clothing as a sign of respect and care.
This ritual allows the living to demonstrate their ongoing reverence for the departed. Some are given their favorite possessions to emphasize their cherished status, such as sunglasses to protect them from the sun or a cigarette. It is believed that honoring the dead in this way invites their blessings upon the community.
The Manene festival occurs only once every few years. Many of the exhumed bodies remain remarkably well-preserved, suggesting they are enjoying a favorable afterlife.
3. The Jericho Skull
Approximately 9,500 years ago in Jericho, modern-day Palestine, a man passed away. His skull was unearthed by archaeologists in 1953. Unlike most ancient remains, this skull provides a glimpse of his appearance. After his death, his head was detached, and a hole was carved into the back of the skull, filled with soil, and sealed with clay. The skull was then coated in plaster and sculpted to replicate his living features, with shells used to represent his eyes. This artifact is likely the oldest portrait housed in the British Museum.
The skull underwent scanning to determine whether the plastered face was an accurate portrait or merely symbolic. These scans enabled a scientific reconstruction of his facial features and revealed that his head had been intentionally shaped during infancy through binding, altering its natural form.
Other plastered skulls, similar to the Jericho Skull, have been found. One example in the Ashmolean Museum uses ridged cowrie shells to mimic eyes. If the idea of a skull staring back at you is unsettling, it might be best to avoid seeking out this particular artifact.
2. Saints
In Catholicism, the practice of venerating the body parts of saints as sacred relics has a long history. These relics were often believed to bestow miracles upon the faithful. Lesser known is the fact that even today, every Catholic altar used for mass contains small relics. While some relics remain hidden, others are prominently displayed for public reverence.
When people imagine reliquaries containing the remains of saints, they often picture small golden containers holding a finger bone or fragment. However, some saints’ entire bodies are transformed into dazzling relics. For instance, Saint Deodatus in Rheinau, Switzerland, is displayed seated upright, clad in gleaming armor, with his skull covered by a wax mask. In other cases, only the saint’s skull is exhibited.
Referred to as catacomb saints, these remains were primarily transported from Rome to churches across Europe. The receiving churches often invested heavily, adorning the bones with gold or silver and embellishing them with precious gemstones.
1. The Oldest City
Çatalhöyük, often referred to as a proto-city, is considered one of the earliest human settlements. Discovered in Turkey, its ruins defy modern expectations of urban design. The mud-brick structures were constructed directly adjacent to one another, with no streets or pathways separating them. Residents accessed their homes by walking across rooftops and descending through ladders. This ancient community thrived from approximately 7100 to 5600 BC.
While much focus has been placed on the living conditions of Çatalhöyük, researchers have also found its burial practices fascinating. Numerous homes contained human remains buried beneath their floors. The reason for interring the dead within houses remains unclear, though similar practices appear in other cultures. What sets Çatalhöyük apart is the ritualistic painting of the bodies after death.
Some of the remains display vivid red cinnabar markings, with one skull featuring a distinct stripe of pigment. Only a small portion of the bodies unearthed in the city were adorned in this manner, raising intriguing questions about the significance and purpose of these decorations.
