Buzz
Across numerous cultures, ensuring the protection of the deceased is of paramount importance. However, the presence of grave robbers and hostile invasions has often disrupted the peace of the departed. In many instances, those tasked with guarding a tomb went to extreme lengths, even resorting to violence, to ensure the sanctity of the burial site. Below are some extraordinary measures historically taken to defend the resting places of the dead.
10. The Cemetery Gun
Housed in The Museum of Mourning Art in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, this weapon was designed to deter “resurrection men,” who exhumed bodies for financial gain. Created in the 18th century, the device, known as “the cemetery gun,” was a rotating firearm positioned at a grave’s base. Equipped with trip wires, it would activate if intruders approached during the night when the caretaker was absent. Once triggered, the gun would pivot and discharge in the direction of the trespasser.
Eventually, the resurrection men devised a strategy to evade being shot. They dispatched women posing as “mourners” to scout graveyards during the day, checking if families had rented cemetery guns. This reconnaissance allowed them to identify and avoid guarded locations at night. These devices were leased weekly at a high cost, intended to safeguard bodies until they were no longer valuable as medical school cadavers. Ultimately, only the wealthy could afford such protection, leaving the remains of lower-class individuals more vulnerable to theft.
9. Triple-Layered Coffin
During the 1800s in the United Kingdom, body snatching was a widespread issue. Compounding the problem, the notorious killers William Burke and William Hare murdered 17 people in 1828 to supply Dr. Robert Knox with fresh cadavers for medical research, as he sought bodies of individuals who had been healthy at the time of death.
In that same year, a man named Mr. Dowling tragically lost his wife and infant during childbirth. While grieving this sudden loss, he was also deeply concerned about the potential theft of their bodies. To prevent this, he kept the remains at home for several weeks until they began to decompose. Once decomposition set in, he encased his wife and child in a lead coffin. Still unsatisfied, he placed the lead coffin inside a larger wooden one. Mimicking Russian nesting dolls, this double-layered coffin was then placed into a third wooden casket before the entire assembly was buried.
8. Curse
As William Shakespeare sensed his time on Earth was nearing its end, he grew anxious about the potential theft or relocation of his remains. To deter such actions, he placed a curse on anyone who dared disturb his grave.
Shakespeare’s final resting place is in the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, England. Before his death, he left a poetic warning for posterity:
Good frend for Jesus sake forebeare, To digg the dust encloased heare; Bleste be the man that spares thes stones, And curst be he that moves my bones.
Curses were a recurring theme in Shakespeare’s works. A notable example is the line from Romeo and Juliet: “A plague on both your houses!” This curse precedes a cascade of tragic events. Shakespeare’s posthumous warning proved effective, as his grave remains undisturbed. While some may attribute this to respect for his legacy, it’s likely that superstition has also played a role in keeping people away since his death in 1616.
7. Coffin Torpedoes
In 1878, Philip K. Clover patented coffin torpedoes, describing them as a device designed to “effectively prevent the unauthorized resurrection of deceased bodies.” These explosives were affixed to coffins and would detonate if grave robbers attempted to steal a body. Clover emphasized that the invention was specifically intended to kill or severely injure anyone attempting such theft.
As reported by The Stark County Democrat, in January 1881, a trio of body snatchers in Canton, Ohio, attempted to exhume a corpse. Typically, two men would dig while the third kept watch. However, when the diggers struck the ground with their tools, the coffin torpedo detonated, killing one and severely injuring another. The third man fled with his companions' bodies on their sled.
6. Sliding Portcullises and Hidden Entrances
The ancient Egyptians constructed intricate underground chambers to safeguard the treasures buried alongside their pharaohs. Architects designed sliding portcullises, which were stone doors positioned at the top of ramps within narrow passageways. Once the tomb was finished, they removed a support, causing a massive stone slab to slide down and seal the entrance.
Grave robbers found it nearly impossible to move these heavy stone barriers, especially since doing so required lifting them up a ramp. Even if they succeeded, the stone would still obstruct the entry. To bypass this, thieves dug underground tunnels, but architects frequently altered the locations of the tomb entrances. One pyramid even lacked a visible entrance entirely; the body and treasures were lowered through the top, and the apex was sealed, permanently closing the tomb.
5. The Mortsafe
In the early 1800s in Scotland, people started using iron cage frames known as “mortsafes” to protect graves. These coffin-shaped iron structures were placed over wooden coffins and extended above the ground. Due to their immense weight, multiple men were required to lift and position them. Removing a mortsafe was equally challenging, requiring a group of men and a specialized tool called a “mortsafe tackle” to handle the load. This made it nearly impossible for small groups of resurrection men to steal bodies at night.
Many cemeteries kept a few mortsafes available for rent, charging families one shilling per day. The goal was to keep the body secured until decomposition made it worthless to grave robbers. Afterward, the coffin would be exhumed, and the mortsafe would be rented to another family. Wealthier families often purchased their own mortsafes from local blacksmiths, ensuring permanent protection for their loved ones. Some of these iron cages can still be seen today in Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh.
4. Liquid Mercury
Inside the vast tomb of the ancient Chinese emperor Qin, thousands of lifelike clay soldiers stand guard, once armed with real weapons to protect their ruler in the afterlife. When these statues were crafted in 208 BC, they were painted to appear even more realistic.
In addition to the terracotta army, Qin Shi Huang Di’s tomb contains toxic pools of liquid mercury. At the time, Chinese alchemists believed mercury held the secret to eternal life. However, the sheer volume of this poisonous substance has hindered modern archaeologists from fully excavating the site, leaving many areas unexplored.
In Mexico, the Teotihuacan’s Pyramid of the Plumed Serpent was constructed to serve as the final resting place for their emperor. In 2016, archaeologists uncovered a pool of liquid mercury beneath the burial site. Some historians believe this may hold religious significance. Regardless of its original intent, the mercury has proven to be an effective deterrent, ensuring the emperor’s remains remain undisturbed.
3. Satellite Images
In Egypt, tomb raiders continue to plunder ancient burial sites for valuable artifacts. These looters often use dynamite to blast open hidden entrances, causing irreparable damage to priceless relics. The stolen items are then sold on the black market. Looting surged during the 2008 financial crisis and escalated further after the 2011 Egyptian revolution.
Sarah Parcak, the 2016 TED Prize winner, has developed a program to combat the destruction of historical sites. Using satellite imagery, she tracks looting activities in real-time. Her research has already led to the discovery of previously unknown pyramids, enabling archaeologists to secure and excavate sites before looters can strike. Parcak aims to share this data with governments, hoping to transform satellites into a surveillance system that alerts authorities to ongoing robberies.
2. Underwater Tomb
In AD 681, King Munmu of Korea passed away. During his reign, he unified Korea and defended it against Japanese invasions. He believed that by being buried underwater, he could reincarnate as a sea dragon and continue safeguarding his nation from beyond the grave.
Today, visitors can still see Munmu’s underwater burial site, though it appears as a small, rocky island. At its center lies a pond. Some historians suggest Munmu’s ashes were scattered in the surrounding waters, making the term “tomb” symbolic. Others argue the ashes are stored in an urn beneath stone slabs at the pond’s base. Despite the tomb’s location being known, no excavation attempts have been made, possibly out of respect or the absence of buried treasures.
1. The Army
In Palestine, tombs of revered religious figures attract Jewish and Christian pilgrims, making them targets during the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In 2000, the tomb of Joseph, son of Jacob, was bombed and later repaired. In 2015, it was attacked again by arson, causing significant damage. The Israeli army now guards the site, allowing monthly nighttime visits under military escort. These attacks prompted an emergency United Nations meeting.
Rachel, a significant Biblical figure, is also honored with a tomb in Bethlehem. In 2017, Palestinian teenagers targeted the site with explosives, but fortunately, no injuries or damage occurred. These sacred sites remain vulnerable to attacks unless lasting peace is achieved in the region.
