Curious posts for curious people

Located in Brompton cemetery in London lies the supposed tomb of Hannah Courtoy, given the nickname "the Brompton time machine". The cemetery itself is another of the "magnificent 7" created in the 19th century along with Highgate cemetery (there's a recent post about Highgate if you're interested). The cemetery has been frequent used in film and TV, including Sherlock with Benedict Cumberbatch. It features some stunning architecture, classical colonnades and underground catacombs full of ornate Victorian coffins in various states of disrepair. The most famous grave, mentioned above is the Courtoy Mausoleum. The legends surrounding the tomb perfectly marry together...

Nagaland is an Indian state known for being mainly mountainous, located in the far north-east of the country, and makes up part of India’s border with Myanmar. With its largest city being Dimapur, and state capital of Kohima, Nagaland is home to a population of nearly 2 million people. Nagaland is known as one of India’s “Seven Sister States” due to the distinct cultural differences from the rest of India. The area is around one sixth rainforest, and home to Elephants, Tigers (wild, not kept by Joe Exotic), Leopards, Bears, Monkeys, Buffalo – Nagaland has them all. The longtail feathers...

Across European cultures, and later stretching over into north America, within many old houses, dating from the Medieval era right up until the 20th century “dried” or “mummified” cats have been unearthed within walls, bricked into chimneys, under floorboards and even over doors and lintels. Often, they’re discovered deliberately posed as if in the midst of attack. These felines ended up within these walls placed by people believing them to protect the household and it’s inhabitants from a range of supernatural, psychic and occult threats as well as sometimes being placed in there for more positive reasons like aiding fertility....

Nkisi or N’kondi statues are what is known as a fetish doll, found in West Africa and the Central Congo region of Africa. Fetishism, in relation to anthropology, is used to describe the process where a certain social group or individual places upon an object certain powers or values taking it from a mundane item to one of a spiritual, cultural or social value. With the case of N’kondi, these are carved wooden dolls, ranging in height and size, and indeed appearance and is placed either inside, or outside the home. Once the doll is created, for every wish for...

Alice is an example of natural mummification, a process in which the tissues and organs of an individual are preserved without the interference of chemicals by people. Natural mummification can occur in multiple ways, one of these being extreme cold, i.e. being frozen in glaciers – one of the most famous examples of this being Otzi the iceman, found in the Otzal Alps on border between Austria and Italy. Otzi died between 3400 and 3100 BCE but is so well preserved, his tattoos are still visible. Secondly, mummification can be caused by a lack of oxygen, for instance in a...