Ancient international decapitations week?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the recent discoveries of decapitated skeletons and skulls in various locations, including Britain and Norway, and the implications of these findings. Participants explore historical contexts, identification methods, and contemporary parallels, particularly in relation to violence in Mexico.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Historical

Main Points Raised

  • One participant mentions the discovery of Julia Thomas's skull in Britain and the identification of Anna Østmo's remains in Norway, suggesting a pattern of macabre finds.
  • Another participant questions the identification process of Østmo's skeleton, asking about the location of the discovery and the methods used to confirm identity from historical records.
  • A later reply provides details on the identification of Østmo's skeleton, citing the execution site, the number of executions, and physical characteristics that match historical descriptions.
  • Several participants express concern about the frequency of decapitations in Mexico, linking it to the ongoing drug war and suggesting a cyclical nature to such violence.
  • One participant speculates on a broader cultural "decapitation mood," suggesting that contemporary issues reflect deeper societal trends.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying levels of agreement on the identification of historical remains, while there is a shared concern regarding current violence in Mexico. However, the discussion includes multiple perspectives on the implications of these findings and their connections to contemporary issues, indicating unresolved viewpoints.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding the assumptions made about the identification processes and the cultural interpretations of violence, which are not fully explored or agreed upon by participants.

arildno
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Ancient international decapitations week?

On the macabre side, this week seems to be one where old decapitated skeletons, or the separated skulls therefrom are found throughout the world!

1. In Britain, in the garden of the not-unkown David Attenborough, the skull of the 1879 murder victim Julia Thomas has been found:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1323396/Skull-Sir-David-Attenboroughs-garden-solves-1879-Barnes-Mystery.html[/URL]

2. At Åsnes, Norway, a headless skeleton was found, and full alarm was raised.
The Forensic Institute has established it is the remains of convicted&decapitated child murderess Anna Østmo, who strangled her bastard child in 1782.
(Her skull is still missing)
[url]http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=10034333[/url]

Are similar occurences afoot (askull??) in the US this week? :smile:
 
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I'll have to take your word on that second article. Was the body found at the site of the death? How could they identify a body only from back then?
 


As for the identification:
1. The skeleton was found near the old execution site.
2. Only three persons were executed at that place in this manner in the time range determined by the Forensic Institute, Østmo included.
3. Of those three, only she fits the skeleton found, that of a slender, young woman (the other two were male)
4. We know from sources that her last plea was to be buried in hallowed ground, and also that this plea was ignored.

So, the identification seems pretty solid.
 


Seems to happen in Mexico these days, with very disturbing regularity :frown:.
 


lisab said:
Seems to happen in Mexico these days, with very disturbing regularity :frown:.

nothing like seeing the decapitated head of your friends and family to discourage you from repeating offensive mistakes...
 


lisab said:
Seems to happen in Mexico these days, with very disturbing regularity :frown:.

Jasongreat said:
There were two skulls sent to a local universities history department. Here's the story: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=12979142

Just as I thought, then. These things happen in cycles, I guess...
 


lisab said:
Actually my comment was in reference to the vicious drug war going on in Mexico now.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_Drug_War

I'm not so sure.
I think I've proven that the deep structure of current reality, i.e, its Zeitgeist, is in a decapitation mood. It then utilizes various contemporary issues to make itself known.

Sad, frightening, but probably true..:frown: