Buzz
Certain human remains have appeared so unusual that they were mistaken for extraterrestrial beings, primates, mythical creatures like vampires, or even leprechauns. In some instances, the strange conditions under which these skeletons were discovered have been linked to the unique lives these individuals led. Additionally, some remains reflect cultural practices that physically altered their bone structures.
Life leaves its imprint on the deceased in diverse ways, much like it does on the living, as these ten extraordinary skeletons clearly demonstrate.
10. The Atacama ‘Alien’ Skeleton
In 2003, a peculiar 15-centimeter (6-inch) skeleton discovered in Chile’s Atacama Desert sparked wild theories, with some claiming it was extraterrestrial due to its elongated skull and 10 ribs instead of the usual 12. Others speculated it might be an aborted fetus or a primate. However, scientific analysis confirmed the remains were human.
The elongated skull might have been caused by intentional cranial deformation, a practice common in Central America 1,000 years ago. While the exact age of the skeleton remains uncertain, researchers estimate the individual died “at least a few decades ago.” Another possible explanation for the skull’s shape is turricephaly, a congenital condition resulting in a cone-shaped head.
The skeleton’s size adds to the mystery. DNA analysis suggests it belonged to a child aged six to eight, yet it measures only 15 centimeters long. Dwarfism doesn’t fully explain the stark contrast between its age and diminutive stature.
Another puzzling detail is that nine percent of the skeleton’s genes don’t align with the human genome. This anomaly could stem from DNA degradation, lab preparation errors, or insufficient data. Despite these explanations, the skeleton remains an intriguing and unsolved mystery.
9. Roopkund Skeletons
Located in Uttarakhand, India, at an elevation of 5,000 meters (16,400 ft) in the Himalayas, Roopkund Lake, also known as Skeleton Lake, contains the remains of up to 600 individuals. These bones span from the ninth to the 15th century and include both shorter and taller skeletons.
According to an ancient local tale, the skeletons belong to King Jasdhawal and his entourage, who incurred the wrath of the Hindu goddess Mata during a pilgrimage. Along with the local deity Latu, she unleashed violent storms and avalanches, pummeling the king and his army with massive hailstones as punishment for their defiance.
The legend might hold some truth, as scientists suggest the cracked skulls of the skeletons could have been caused by hailstones, and the group may have perished in a blizzard or similar natural disaster. It’s possible they were pilgrims taking part in the Nanda Jaat Yatra, a religious pilgrimage that occurs once every 12 years.
8. Medieval Tree Skeleton
A peculiar skeleton was discovered within the roots of a 215-year-old beech tree in Collooney, Sligo, Ireland, after the tree fell during a storm, revealing the remains entangled in its roots. The bones, dating back 900 to 1,100 years, belong to a young male aged between 17 and 21.
Marion Dowd, director of Sligo-Leitrim Archaeological Services, concluded that the individual met a violent end. Knife marks on the skeleton’s chest suggest he was fatally stabbed. Signs of struggle are evident, including a defensive wound on the left hand. The victim’s Christian identity is inferred from the westward orientation of his head and historical records of a nearby church and cemetery.
The deceased was likely buried by loved ones. Years later, a tree was planted unknowingly above the grave, and its roots eventually grew around the remains. The skeleton’s presence within the tree roots is a mere coincidence, as the planter had no knowledge of the body buried below.
7. Long-Skulled Skeleton
An elongated skull, initially thought to belong to an alien, was unearthed at Arkaim, often referred to as the “Russian Stonehenge,” near Chelyabinsk in central Russia. Ufologists speculate the remains resemble a “humanoid figure,” akin to the 3,000-year-old Paracas elongated skulls from Peru. DNA studies of the Peruvian skulls hinted they might not be entirely human.
Researchers, however, argue that the skeleton is likely a Sarmati woman. While not of extraterrestrial origin, her remains predate the Paracas skulls by 1,000 years. The elongation of her skull is attributed to the ancient practice of head-binding.
6. Sexually Perverse Nuns
Archaeologists unearthed 92 skeletons of nuns at Littlemore Priory in Oxfordshire, linked to the scandalous, violent, and sexual misconduct that took place within the nunnery.
Founded in 1110, the priory was shut down by Cardinal Wolsey in 1525 after its prioress was disciplined for her persistent “sins.” Notably, the nuns’ remains were not buried within the nunnery, a place of honor typically reserved for them, but in the priory’s cemetery. One nun was buried face-down beside a stillborn baby in a coffin, likely as penance for her transgressions. She may have been among those whose actions led to the priory’s dissolution and the pensioning off of the prioress.
In the 16th century, it was revealed that both the prioress, Katherine Wells, and another nun had illegitimate children. Wells also confessed to physically punishing nuns she accused of misbehavior. There are suspicions that one nun may have disposed of an unwanted baby by discarding it in the privy. A woman considering joining the nunnery was so appalled by the nuns’ behavior that she chose not to join.
Wells was convicted of embezzling funds from the nunnery to provide a dowry for her daughter. Her child’s father, a priest, frequently visited them at the priory. The other nun’s child was fathered by a married man from Oxford. Wells admitted that sexual relationships between nuns and local men, her violent treatment of the nuns, and her thefts had persisted for eight years.
5. Bigfoot Skeletons (Or Lack Thereof)
If Bigfoot truly exists, its remains would inevitably leave behind skeletons. However, no such remains have ever been discovered or preserved. Alleged Bigfoot bones have consistently been identified as belonging to known animals.
Reports claim that Bigfoot bones were gathered after Mount St. Helens erupted, but the National Guard allegedly destroyed them along with other animal remains. A Bigfoot jawbone is said to have been lost in a house fire, and a college reportedly disassembled a Bigfoot skull before returning its fragments to the discoverer. Museums are also rumored to have misplaced specimens. Over the years, believers assert that numerous Bigfoot remains have been lost, destroyed, or otherwise vanished.
Nature appears to play a role in eliminating Bigfoot skeletons. Animals quickly consume the bones, while microbes and ants further break down any remnants. Despite numerous claims of Bigfoot bones and skeletons, scientists remain skeptical about the creature’s existence.
4. Centaur Skeleton
Centaurs are mythical creatures, but Tucson’s International Wildlife Museum features a skeletal sculpture of one, created by zoologist and sculptor Bill Willers. Part of the “Mythological Wildlife” collection, the statue aims to provoke thought about the nature of reality, as Willers explained.
The exhibit, which includes other legendary beings, highlights how myths have influenced science, some with potential real-world origins. For instance, the cyclops legend might stem from misinterpreted mastodon fossils, and the Protoceratops could have partially inspired the unicorn myth.
3. Castrated Skeleton
The skeleton itself wasn’t castrated, but the man it belonged to, the renowned 19th-century mezzo-soprano Gaspare Pacchierotti (1740–1821), was. His bones reveal the physical impact of the procedure. Pacchierotti underwent castration before turning 12 to maintain his vocal range.
Pacchierotti’s height, 190 centimeters (6’3″), aligns with the elongated leg bones characteristic of castrati, caused by delayed bone fusion, which also influenced hip development. Like many castrati, he suffered from osteoporosis, evident in multiple fractures in his lumbar spine and reduced bone density in his limbs.
2. Vampire Skeleton
A 700-year-old skeleton, missing its teeth, was recently discovered in Bulgaria. An iron rod, driven through its chest, was found alongside the remains. These measures, including the removal of teeth, were taken to ensure the deceased would not return as a vampire.
The grave, situated in a churchyard, was enclosed by sturdy stone walls. This skeleton is another historical instance of a corpse being altered to prevent it from rising again.
1. Poisoned Skeletons
While defending Dura-Europos, a Syrian city under siege, Roman soldiers charged into a narrow tunnel to counter Persian forces attempting to breach the walls. They were met with a deadly “noxious black smoke” that turned acidic in their lungs. Nearby lay one of the attackers, possibly killed by the same “toxic underground fire” he had ignited. His armor was pulled up around his chest, indicating he might have been struggling to remove it as he died.
This encounter between the Romans and their Persian foe may represent the earliest archaeological proof of chemical warfare, a tactic employed during the Persian assault on Dura.
