Archaeologists managed to connect the remains of people found in one of the private gardens of Edinburgh with the famous serial killers of the nineteenth century. Traces of anatomical studies were found on the bones.
A little over a year ago, the remains of several people were discovered in the garden around a private house in Edinburgh? four adults and one child who immediately attracted public attention.
The point is, what's on the bones? and there were more than 60? discovered small holes that were commonly made in the 19th century to hold skeletons together. Accordingly, it was concluded that the buried remains were used for display in anatomical theaters or museums.
Given the age of the skeletons, they were almost immediately linked to the famous West Port murders that horrified the entire United Kingdom almost 200 years ago.
West Port Killers William Burke and William Hare. West Port Murders, or An Authentic Account of the Atrocious Murders Committed by Burke and His Associates.
Now forensic archaeologists have confirmed? the bodies found did indeed fall at the hands of the Edinburgh murderers.
Along with Jack the Ripper, the West Port assassins are the most famous British criminals of the century before last. Their story has been repeatedly used in popular culture, based on which Robert Louis Stevenson wrote the story "The Body Snatchers".
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She was also the basis for nine movies, the last one? "Hands and feet for love" (Burke and Hare)? was released in 2010 with Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis in the lead roles.
In the 19th century, the capital of Scotland was one of the leading centers for teaching medicine. University professors were in constant need of fresh human corpses for dissection and display in anatomical theaters. Many of them were willing to pay a lot of money for dead bodies, not particularly interested in their origin. Among them was Dr. Robert Knox.
Having learned about such an interesting source of income, two poor Irish immigrants, William Hare and William Burke, decided to earn extra money. Did they meet people? newcomers, prostitutes, beggars? on the streets and in taverns, lured into their homes, scorched with whiskey and beer, and then choked so that no traces of violence remained. Then the fresh corpses were sent to Robert Knox, who did not ask unnecessary questions and paid in hard currency.
The wax figure of Dr. Robert Knox is on display at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Museum. wikimedia / Kim Traynor.
The general account of the murderers succeeded in 1827-28. send 16 people to the next world, until the police came on their trail and put an end to their bloody atrocities.
How the skeletons of recently found victims were buried in the garden of a private house has not yet been established.
Vahagn Maloyan