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Call for questions: Urban Bioarchaeology (CATACOMBS) (Patreon)

Published:
2022-09-21 01:46:37
Edited:
2022-09-22 00:22:12
Imported:
2026-06

Content

Update: So it seems Patreon is having a little bug where posts aren't generating emails to you! So we'll try this again! (Patreon tech folks are working to de-bug this today, thankfully...)

Spooktober approaches. And what is more chilling than ... a bunch of tunnels under Paris filled with skellies? 

One of the world's experts in Parisian Catacombs & the author of "Making Space for the Dead" has agreed to let me launch a bunch of questions at them. Leave yours below and as always, let me know if I've never said your name before -- or said it wrong!

Ducking into a tunnel with goosebumps,

Ward 

Comments

peach

what was the reason behind the skull/ bone stacking? spooky ambience?

SammmN

What is the modern research going into? (Identifying the bodies or something else?)

The Lucky Honey

1. What was the process of selecting and obtaining the bodies? (New patron here 👋🏽)

The Lucky Honey

2. Do we know the identities of any of the people whose bodies were used?

The Lucky Honey

3. Are there written records describing the process by individuals involved in constructing the catacombs? (I have sooooo many questions haha)

Meghan McLean

Are animals ever included in the catacombs? Pets or any other special animals?

Samantha

How is it possible that people still get lost? What, if any, security measures are in place to protect wondering visitors?

Jordan Smith

(first time question asker) Do you spend more time studying the bones themselves (to learn maybe what people ate and how they lived) or is it more about the location (microbiology, eras leaving their mark on the structure of the catacombs, etc)

Courtney Peterson

Who was buried there? Also kind of morbid BUT were they put there with the flesh still on or were they bones when they were placed?

Aly V

As someone who has never been in one, what does it smell like in there?

Jordan Smith

What's the most interesting thing you've ever found?

Jordan Smith

When you go to a conference what do other people present? Do you collab with biologists and physicians? Is there a community of researchers studying different kinds of 'burials'?

Nancy Kay Clark

Do you hear the echoes of the dead down there? Like, how haunted is it?

Hannah Gilman

First time question asker! & proud to say I’ve been in catacombs in Rome & loved it! A little creepy and super dark but absolutely fascinating how far down it goes 😳. My question is what happened/caused this burial method to stop/change to more cremation & 6 feet under?

Abigail Parsons

First time question asker! What are your favorite mythologies or fictional stores involving catacombs and/or burials similar? /What is one that you really dislike?

Pj anderer

Are there many buildings built over graves like Westminster Burial Griund in Baltimore (which resulted in a sort of catacombs)?

Bernhard Weninger

Is the entrance marked with an X? (sorry, probably watched too much indiana jones 🙈)

Bex W.

Why the skulls?

Sleepy John

Is there any way to identify the dead? What would DNA testing tell us about the Parisian population?

Sydney S

FTQA Morbid but... Are bones good building material? How quickly do they deteriorate?

Naomi Jane

Are the skeletons down there preserved in any way? I've been (super romantic honeymoon thing to do!) and found it absolutely fascinating, but I imagine a lot of folks find it disrespectful? Have there been any movements against keeping the tunnels open for visitors, or closing it as an 'attraction'?

Stephanie Leské

Hey! What are the recesses like that the bodies are placed in? Are they decorated in any way? What's the process for the bodies is it much like that of a coffin burial?Are any special items left with the dead by family etc? How many people actually get lost down there? Any famous doggos?

Bex W.

In your opinion, is there anything particularly French about the catacombs?

Erin Bridges

First question, I never get in early enough!! I got goosebumps I'm so excited already. ❤ Since the Catacombs were created, what historical uses have they had besides storing bones? You hear stories about secret meetings, passages leading to areas used for other things, storage during wartimes, etc. Also is it true it is still not completely mapped out or otherwise explored with documentation?

Lily Bee

I’m so curious what it smells like down there also how haunted it really is 👀

JENN 'Benthopelagic squirrel' ALVAREZ

What's the weirdest thing found down there? Besides human bones. Who put the bones there? Like, was that a full time job for someone? What makes the bones stick together so they don't tumble down?

Anna Thompson

How has the presence of the catacombs affected the Persian relationship with death?

Dantooine

What was the purpose of stacking the skulls and femur bones that line the catacomb walkways?

John Worster

So, when a catacomb is discovered like this one. Do scientists investigate the remains, such as taking measurements of the bodies, to determine the size, possible cause of death, and DNA?

Chase Penix

I can’t think of Catacombs without "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allen Poe. Is there much evidence of people going down into the catacombs of their own freewill only to end up victims that never get to leave?

Dantooine

Is it true there are still unexplored sections?

Elektra

Real morbid: is there value in this structural system? Should there be more of these being built?

AP

How did they clean the bones to put tgwm there? Who did the bones belong to?

Rachael Gardner

The catacombs make for a pretty unusual museum experience. What are the particular challenges of running the space as a place for visitors (and probably academic types too)?

Michelle Leonard

The catacombs are a pretty big tourist attraction. When was it officially opened to the public and what kind of damage or deterioration has been observed over the years?

Trevor Doty

Since an ossuary is just for bones and a temporary grave is used first, are there any cases of bones going missing in transit to their final resting place?

Trevor Doty

And how many people are down there?

Celeste

How can you go to catacombs and be as respectful as possible to the deceased?

Rebekah Fitchett

How do I get to be a skeleton in a catacomb?

Mary Long

Thinking about Gopher tortoises, have there been species of animals that have adapted to living in the catacombs or changed their behaviors to thrive in that environment?

Seán Thomas Kane

How old are some of the bones in the Catacombes?

Lindsey James

Did everyone get buried into the catacombs at one time? How was it decided who was buried down there? Was there a need to build the catacombs or was it a choice? Who had access to the catacombs when they were actively being…used? (Filled with passed people)

Deacon Raid

Hey Alie, I was talking to Theresa Nichta at the bat conference and we had an idea for Spooktober: Dr Gerry Carter at Ohio State studies the social dynamics of Vampire Bats!

Lindsey James

What local mythology surrounds the catacombs?

Deacon Raid

I assume there are rodents down there but what else is living in the catacombs? People? Are there hidden bedrooms???

Jacob Hollingsworth

Hey Alie, is grave robbing a big problem in the Paris catacombs? Or are people too frightened of being cursed or haunted? First time question asker here. Also what's up with the Sedlec Ossuary? Is it technically a catacomb or just a church filled with human bones?

Jacob Hollingsworth

One other question. Are there so called 'mole people' similar to the ones living underneath New York City that are living in the Paris catacombs?

Ann Hanlin

Who. Why. Who was the guy that was like “hey wouldn’t it be cool if we took grandpa’s skull and stick it on the wall in a creepy ass tunnel?” Why are these even a thing that exists?? What was the reasoning? whyyyyy (Also totally not a big deal but my name is Ann and not Anna but honestly it doesn’t matter at all I’m just so happy that you asked my millipede question 😂😂😂).

Dana B.

1. Is there historical “justification” or “need” for this burial method? Like, whose idea was it to do this, why was this proposed, and how long was this method adopted as “normal”? 2. Are there any superstitions associated with catacombs or this burial method? 3. Are there any notable famous people in catacombs? 4. Is this still a burial method today?

Fiorelily

Hi Alie! New subscriber and 2nd time question asker. Is the Capuchin Crypt in Rome the first documented instance of using human remains as....I don't know what to call it other than....decoration? Like using skulls and bones in an artistic way to bring higher meaning to the burial of important figures. Followup and highly tangential question, where did classical artists source their bones for Bone White pigment?? Are we looking at human bone dust when we admire Monet, Gaugin, Van Gogh, etc paintings?

Aubrey Lunt

Did they every smell really bad?

Aubrey Dunn

Why? Who thought it was cool to start doing this?

Dave O

This is incredibly tangential...but I always wonder about historic sites like the Parisian Catacombs that see a lot of tourist traffic. Modern building codes have strict safety standards for egress in case of fire and other emergencies. I know that historic buildings can skirt SOME of these standards by being grandfathered in...but how does this work with a site like the catacombs? Are their emergency exits? Is there any modern fire supression/ smoke evacuation systems? How is air quality handled? If there is modern infrastructure, how is the construction handled in relation to the sensitive historical context?

Will

Do all catacombs have stacks of skeletons or are catacombs just a network of tunnels under a city? What separates catacombs from just boring old tunnels?

Terri Fisher

I have ALL the questions!! How many are really under the Vatican? What's in them? That kinda stuff. Alie I hope you and your family are doing well. You all are in my thoughts often. ❤️

Shannon O'Grady

First time question asker! So excited to be here :) Have you ever found anything like the Phantom's catacomb cave in Phantom of the Opera? Someone living in a catacomb or a casual underground organ?

AP

What are some of the things archaeologists in your specialty have to do differently than other archaeologists?

AP

What was your journey to this position? (Aspiring archaeologist here)

Frankie Sellitto

Are all catacombs ossuaries? What’s the difference?

Frankie Sellitto

When does it start becoming archeology and stop being rave robbing?

Ashley Oki

Have you seen the post about taking a skull from the catacombs and sneaking it onto haunted mansion at Disneyland and if so what do you think??

Ashley Oki

Why just the skulls?? Where are the rest of the bodies??

Raegan Robertson

First time question asker: what lives down there? Other than spooky ghosties of course

Jessie Dragon

What do they think of all the ghost stories in catacombs? There’s also those catacombs made with bodies and bones, what are their thoughts? And what do they think of the Paris catacombs?

erica smith

What the heck did the archeologists find under Notre Dame after the fire?!?!

Maria Jouravleva

What, in your opinion, is the best "use" of catacombs for the future?

Rachel Kendrick

How do you not get claustrophobic in there. Boy howdy my heart would explode

Sydonie S.

What is the weirdest thing you've found in a catacomb?

Megan Duffy

Are there hidden tunnels and entrances that most people don’t know about in the Paris catacombs.

Jessica Janssen

What has been your scariest, coolest, or strangest experience while in the catacombs?

Jen A.

Will we return to catacombs as surface land gets more and more scarce? (Jen Ellen)

Claire Netto

How recently was the last dead body put into the catacombs? ** first time question asker!

Jacob Bowman

have you had any freaky experiences when in the catacombs?

Grace Markley

People have caving accidents, do events that result in injury or death occur while exploring catacombs?

Meghan Matthews-Adair

*What does it smell like?? Are there really ghosts down there? What freaks you out most when you’re in the catacombs? Has your light/torch ever gone out and you’ve been stuck in the dark? Did you wet your pants in this scenario? I went to Hallstatt Austria once and they buried their dead and then dug them up and painted the skulls years later. Is that what happened here? If not, what *did* happen here? Were the catacombs helpful during the revolution?

Megan Duffy

Also, have you seen the horror movie based around the Paris catacombs? Super underrated movie in my opinion

Adam Foote

I've been wondering if any of the bone pillars in the catacombs are weight bearing? Like is there a fromagerie in Paris that's only supported by a carefully arranged pile of femurs? Also do we know who any of those bones belong to?

Scott Sheldon

Ok, I know you are a Parisian catacomb expert, but do tombs count? If so, Valley of the Kings in Egypt…what’s your fav??

sidney

How many people did it take to move all the remains into the Parisian catacombs?? Can you choose to be entombed in the catacombs? How long did it take them to "finish" the catacombs?

Dynamic Duchess Cosplay

Are their catacombs for animals/pets? If I could have a catacomb be made, by cat would be buried like a king.

Ayshia Yaeger

Omgomgomg I'm so excited about this one! Have we explored every inch of the catacombs, or are there undiscovered or current areas that are too dangerous to explore?? "Asia" They/them!

Sarah Endres

First time question asker (my last name is said like ON-DRAYS) I’m so excited!!! Do they put more than human bones in the catacombs? Like dogs or pets or anything?

Amanda

Yessssssssssss

Rachel M

Are there differences versus burying someone right in the dirt for what microbes show up or how bodies decompose?

Montana

Who are all these skulls from? Do we know who any of them were in life?

Shelby Mills

What is the temp., humidity, of catacombs? Does certian types of molds/fungi grow in catacombs?

Chris Curious

Are there catacombs in the USA similar to those found in Europe?

Ashley Oki

Oh btw I just got an email about this post so it seems like it’s working again:)

Allie Brown

Did people go into the catacombs back in the day other than to leave a new body? We visit the catacombs as tourists now, did they do the same then?

Shelby Mills

How many people are in the catacombs?

Scott Sheldon

I’m guessing “modern day” Paris was just built on top of an older Paris (since a surprising amount of old cities are), are there any full structures down there?

Sara Edgar

How many people have disappear/gone missing in there?

Gail Coogan

Do non-human animal catacombs exist?

Caitlin Land

Why do I find catacombs so eerily pretty? like they make patterns and stack the bones in an aesthetic way for a reason I guess…

Steve Haskin

I know the skulls and femurs weren’t stacked up like they are in the catacombs. So were the bodies buried first, then disinterred and stacked up at a later time? Was it a space issue in bf the graveyards? So stacks of bones and skulls could be made in the tunnels freeing up space in the cemeteries? Or were they criminals or Huguenots or whatever?

Hannah Matousek

Do we know why skulls were used for decoration in ancient catacombs?

Laura Lemon

Was going to ask if anyone has tried to identify the bones or make a full skeleton from them. It’s the coolest place ever though.

NanoNaturalist

Has anybody done research on the geology/biology of the Paris catacombs? I was very interested to see stalactites and an algae/isopod/spider food web down there!

Laura Lemon

It doesn’t smell bad haha similar to cave!

Garvey’s

Does Canada have any catacombs? Are they haunted?

Stephanie Cloutier

I’m very excited to hear about this episode topic! I don’t have a question but a comment that I find them fascinating as well and have visited the catacombs in Naples, Italy. They were amazing! Seeing artwork painted on the walls from early Christian times was a sight to see.

Average_pi

Did the catacombs have rats? How about poo and pee? Did the dead bodies and rats that may be down there help spread black plague? Are some of them sussy Sus chambers where they did Sus things? Can I go in catacombs?

Earl of Greymalkin

1) If I remember right the catacombs were created in Paris because the cemeteries in the city were overflowing and they needed to shift bones out of those plots of land somewhere else. How many dead people were moved? Who did the grunt work and did they get paid for it? Who designed and managed the arrangements? How many weren't moved and are still underneath buildings and cobblestones in the city? 2) The catacombs I know of all seem pretty old. Is anyone still building these today? Why/why not? Can you write in your will that you want to be added to an ossuary somewhere? How have attitudes about death and dead people changed over time in Paris? 3) What can you tell about the people from their bones left in these catacombs? 4) Are the Parisian catacombs organized at all or did they just throw people in willy nilly and arrange as they went? Are the individual bones from any one person likely to be found in the same area or might they have been spread out in the arrangements? 5) HOW DO THE STACKS NOT FALL OVER??? What if they do fall over? Has anyone ever climbed them and not been cursed by those they disrespected? 6) Isn't there a story about people breaking in and having a concert in the gallery one night? How many spooky parties have been thrown down there? 7) Were people using the cave systems under Paris for any other reasons? Does anyone's basement connect with the catacombs? 8) How was the Metro built to not disturb the dead? 9) Asking for a friend, if you wanted to hide a body in the catacombs, how hard would it be? (Just kidding just kidding just kidding!! But I think this could make a good FICTIONAL serial killer murder mystery, just saying.) 10) I remember it being nice and chilly in the catacombs while streetside was a little too warm in the summer. Do the dead help provide air conditioning? Hahaha 11) Are the bones going to degrade over time and fall apart? Do the arrangements "settle" at all? 12) How do they do pest control down there? New York has pizza rat, do the catacombs have crepe ghost rat?

Sydney Toups

Yes - what would a job working in a catacomb be like?

Stephanie Cloutier

Wait, I lied, I do have questions: which catacomb is considered the biggest in terms of expansion? Have every square inch of some of the catacombs like in Paris or in Rome been explored or are there some parts yet to be discovered? (First time asking a question)

Sydney Toups

Definitely a good topic for what movies got it right or wrong!

Alex Minor

What are/were the religious beliefs behind catacombs? What God said, yes, walls of death, totally chic! (First time question asker)

Gracie Zrain

Hello! Are catacombs affected by colonialism and how we use them in the US now? How are they racially balanced if at all? Thanks!

Sydney Toups

After visiting catacombs in Paris, I said I wanted to see ones in Rome but the argument that "if you've seen one you've seen them all" got it struck from our must-see list. Is this true when it comes to catacombs? Are they similarly structured, or are there notable differences?

Noel Dietz

Did they put the dead inti the catacombs as corpses or after they were skeletal?

Chelsea-Victoria Turner

Did they like the movie. As above, so below. Was there ANYTHING accurate in the movie. According to IMDB they did film on site.....lies or no?

Kyriaki Karalis

Ahh this is my first question I am asking! So excited! From someone who climbs and has knowledge of climbing safety (like using ropes and harnesses, etc) can your guest describe the safety measures explorers (should) take when exploring catacombs? Do explorers take oxygen with them? Thank you, Kyriaki (pronounced kitty uh- KEY)

Joe Porfido

How badly do they flood?

Keri Overall

How has religion/spiritual belief influenced and/or changed the construction of catacombs throughout history?

Quincey Robisheaux

What are some underappreciated charnel houses/catacombs/etc in your opinion?

gg

Is Pompeii a catacomb? When Hollywood does Pompeii, why is it a disaster movie? It's a lovely city except for one hot day. Who's buried in Grant's Tomb? Is late president Grant buried in The Dome of Musée de l'Armée or is it someone else?

Connie Brooks

First time question poser here! I’ve been to the Parisian catacombs and always wondered if you could catch any diseases from all those old bones?

Dawn and Eric Easton

Approximately how many bodies are in the Paris Catacombs and can we get DNA from any of them and find descendants?

Dorian Gray

How accurate is the depiction of french catacombs in the film "As Above, So below"? thank you

Amelia Frank

How structurally sound are they? Cities get built on top of cities, get built on top of cities...but all of that on top of tunnels filled with bones?!!? Seems...structurally unsound (coming from a non-architecture/non-engineering person)

Emmett M Wald

(first-time question asker!) How much illegal stuff happens down in the catacombs, and what are the most common illegal activities?

Brynn

(First time question asker and new patron! My name is “Brynn” which rhymes with “Lynn”.) Good lord who was given the task of artfully placing the bones in patterns?? And was any care taken to match skulls with femurs etc. so that a person’s bones were placed together? Or was it just assumed that this was going to have more of a human remains mosaic vibe?

Caitlin Cervenka

Hello! New Patreon member first time question asker ahhh why am I nervous?!? Catacombs : what is your FAVORITE ghost story about the catacombs you study and is there any basis in history, evidence, theory etc that it could have some truth to it?

Ruby Johnstone

Are there any particularly interesting or gruesome tales of the Parisian catacombs?

Petr Kubik

Were the bodies in catacombs preserved in any way, or would they just wall them in and let bugs get at them through any cracks? And if so, did they usually just smell of rotting meat then?

Grace

When is a tunnel a catacomb? Are all tunnels catacombs if they connect enough? Must they house dead bodies?

Jessii Arp

Were the catacombs meant to be artistic to honor the dead or irreverent?

Lindsay Mixer

Oh my god catacombs are like my favorite human thing ever. So excited for this ep!! One question I have that I don’t see asked already: What is the risk level of a sinkhole or other infrastructure collapse happening on streets over catacombs? Has that happened anywhere? How dangerous would that be both to the people on the street and to the integrity of the catacombs?

Justine Doll

What are some of the oldest remains found in catacombs?

Lindsay Mixer

I know the Seattle underground tour has folks sign a waiver saying they understand all these risks, that the tour isn’t ADA compliant, and is very strict about what you can take down, what you can touch, and where you can go—all to satisfy modern safety laws & codes, as well as preserve the integrity of the site. I believe the Parisian catacombs does something similar, from what I researched before visiting (though they were sadly closed due to a union strike so I don’t know for sure how it works).

Sonjabird

Are there records of all the people who were put down there? Or are there lots of anonymous bodies?

Shannon Siegel

How did catacombs come to be? Do we have any idea where they originated from?

Shelby Reardon

Are catacombs structurally sound? how do we know if they are without disturbing the bones?

R P Bergmann

Who arranged the skulls and bones and posed the skeletons of the plague victims under Paris?

ConnieConnieBoBonnie

What health risks are there with exploring catacombs? Could you contract the plague? Run out of good air like in a mine? Injuries? Rats? Rabies?

Iris Hutchings

What's the best catacomb you've seen, and what made it so great? (1st time question asker)

Sonya Wiseman

How did they deal with the smell of decay?

Thomas Beckett

Ossuaries! Why did medieval (“bright ages”) Christian Europeans not have concern for keeping an individual’s bones all together? Wouldn’t that be necessary for “resurrection of the body?”

Sonya Wiseman

…also, how far down is the deepest catacombs?

Sonya Wiseman

…how did the inhabitants of catacombs get water?

Lee O'Reilly

how do i get in them? like, legally? what kind of organizations or individuals run and maintain them?

Lee O'Reilly

also who lives in them now? mice, rats, bugs.. raccoons? birds?

Alia Myers

so... Why are catacombs?

Alia Myers

Whats the wildest formation bones are stacked in?

Alia Myers

Favorite catacomb/spot in a catacomb?

Alia Myers

How can you tour and appreciate catacombs without being disrespectful to the dead?

Alia Myers

Were there specific people that had the honor (or dishonor) of being buried in the catacombs? Is it just everybody from a certain time period/area? How did the decide that?

Alia Myers

Could you choose to be buried inan catacomb?

Alia Myers

Do we have modern day catacombs or are they just a relic if the past?

Alia Myers

Are there certain cultures that used catacombs more than other?

Alia Myers

What is the oldest skeleton in the catacombs?

NiceWarmBooks

how are the bones of folks who died in the 1700 different from the bones of people who died today? stronger, shaped differently, less chocolatey, different occupational markers more common?

Sutton Moore

First time question asker!! How often do people try to steal/take home remains from catacombs, and are those remains that are removed usually recovered?

Jade Podtetenieff

[Orchestra concert in the catacombs!!] A few years ago I went to Paris and visited the catacombs with a friend, and it was mentioned briefly that at some point in the late 1800’s, an Orchestra met down there and performed a wicked concert! I believe the music was written about the catacombs, or it was just macabre.. but I’m super jealous I wasn’t alive to see it because it sounded so rad! More people should know about this because it’s cool as hell🤘🏼

Megan Turpin

I absolutely have questions!! What is the creepiest thing that has ever happened to you in the catacombs? And is there anything that you have discovered, that surprised you or moved you?

Rob Montague

First time asker: are there remains of non-human bones among the human bones (e.g., perhaps the bones of pets interred post-mortem along with their human family).

Wayne Hovey

How old are they really and who started them and why?

Bee

What is up with the raves and movie screenings that happen in the Paris catacombs because they sound both incredible and terrifying?

Alaina Cruson

Are there different types of catacombs and/or ways of building them?

Alessandra Kempson

Do you know about the bone cathedral in Portugal? Also, are there more??

Alaina Cruson

Are there many cultures that built catacombs?

Alessandra Kempson

Why did we decide we wanted to see the dead bodies underground instead of just leaving them in a pit or smth?

Alaina Cruson

Did they emerge in a specific time period or are they a long-term-humans thing?

Red Cedar

First time asker/never said: Are there any animal catacombs? Like for pets? Are there any animal bones in the Paris catacombs? How do we know that there's not?

Scott Pilkington

I know here in Aotearoa New Zealand (as well as other places) there are increasing calls for morbid curiosity research to stop, with only actual legit necessary research on koiwi (human skeletal remains) being done (e.g. when they erode out of sand dunes or are unearthed in civil engineering projects and/or when a cemetary needs to be moved and some TB researchers analysie remains prior to reburial) and otherwise to leave bodies alone (compare with the fascination in unearthing remains on Time Team or the History Channel). What is your approach to this with something as visceral and tangible as catacombs where there is no 'unearthing' to happen?

Scott Pilkington

Another question because I'm greedy: what are the taphonomic processes in catacombs? They must be super different to other kinds of human skeletal remains archaeology. Kthanksbai

Amber McIntyre

Has the whole thing been discovered/mapped out - and if so, how much space do the catacombs cover? If not all discovered, is there an estimate on how much is yet to be explored? Also,is it true that random buildings/residences have entrances that go directly into the catacombs - how many entrances are we talking and how “accessible” are they? I’ve heard a lot of weird stuff goes on down there!

Aven

Do they disintegrate over time? Like is the dirt and ash bits from even older times? Or have they not been around quite long enough? Would over time the eventual disintegrated cause any issues above ground? Totally random final question. We’re the catacombs of a particular country an inspiration for Peter Jackson’s interpretation of the White Mountains in LOTR? Have there been avalanches of skulls?

Marisa Holzman

What is it? Why was it made? Are there catacombs all over is or Paris special? Are there seriously bones just out?!

Sarah Meaden

What did Indiana Jones movies get right and wrong about catacombs?

Sarah Meaden

Ooooh, also - did people get to "reserve" their spot in catacombs like many do today in cemeteries? How did you go about that? Can people do that today in any modern cemeteries?

Ryan Homer

Why are the catacombs so far underground?

Euan Munro

Where are the most surprising catacombs? People probably most associate them with old cities like Rome, but are there any in more modern places?

Kata Zarándy

What happens to the flesh down there? Is dust returning to dust if the body is not in the ground?

Kaitlin J

First timer! What cool stuff besides bones have they found in catacombs? Any spooky treasure?

Kristen Rosenblum

How sturdy are the bones stacked along the sides? Like, would the bones all fall out if you grabbed one and took it out? Are there other catacombs like the Paris one? What are some common features if so?

Specs Owl

Why do some cities have catacombs and most don't? It's not fair! I want every city to have one! Do they do anything to preserve the bones, and stop the wee maggots turning them into dust? Are all the bones of a body taken into the catacombs, or just the skulls and limb bones? Have you found many bones with interesting deformities, or breaks that healed during their lifetime?

breannabanana

Why do most people only know about the catacombs in Paris? Where is the love for all of the other spooky bone tunnels?

Leila Laco

Can I visit the catacombs in Paris? Or is there a related museum? (You got my first name just right Alie, surname is Lack-oh not Lake-oh :) )

Miren Carredano

Has anyone gone missing in the catacombs? I’ve heard a lot of the tunnels are closed to the public but I’m guessing anyone that’s really determined could try to get in… (first time question asker! Name sounds like “me-‘ren” (soft r) ma-rre (hard r)-eh-dah no). Thanks! Love you DadWard!)

Cate Muenker

What famous people are buried dans les catacombs de Paris? Are there tours? Have they done DNA testing on any of the remains? How many bodies are stuffed into those tunnels? Whose job was it to move the bodies and did they write about it?

Ashlee Dent

I’m sure this depends on if the dead are buried with flesh attached or if it’s just a bone laying party but I’m so curious- What do the catacombs smell like? When they’re first established? 3 months later? A year later?

Jesse Hurlburt

What's the wildlife like down there. Are there any creators found only in catacombs? Any amazing adaptations they've developed?

Cassie Chatwin

First time question asker here. How do catacombs change over time? Do they bones stay where they were placed originally or are they orgnised in different ways over the? Are there modern catacombs that have new folks added to them or is this a thing of the past. What is the most interesting things you have seen in catacombs?

Pavka34

Does catacombs specifically mean the underground labyrinths started by the Romans or can it refer to other cave structures built by people for the dead? I did a quick search and it seems the focus is on former parts of the Roman Empire but did include places well outside (Peru, Philippines)

Spencer Parks

The catacombs in Paris are great and interesting and I wish we could walk through more of them! I guess I don't really have a question. :)

Signe S.

How many miles are there? How much is available to visitors? Are there just normal people drinking coffee one story up? How does it affect building/construction? How many archaeologists work on/in the catacombs? What’s the biggest unknown/research question the scientific community has about catacombs? Also can we talk about how the word catacomb sounds really cool? Signe = “sig-nee”

Kelsy Simpson

Howdy! As someone who really wants to adventure into the catacombs, what advice do you have to make it the BEST experience? Do catacombs have a specific scent? Are they likely to collapse or do the bones reinforce the structure well?

Alexander Singer

First time question asker! Who are the people who maintain and care for catacombs? What is their day to day like?

Reiley Allison

Have you heard of the book series 39 clues? Well, it does focus on catacombs for at least one of the books. Not a half bad method of teaching youngsters about catacombs, right? Also have you ever heard of catacombs under the city of Riverside, CA?? I grew up I the area and there were speculations that the under city was a maze of catacombs.

Daniel Gill

Was there a ban or restriction on cremation at the time? How come the bones were kept and not cremated?

ariel.vanzandt

Can someone still choose to be laid to rest in a catacomb?

ariel.vanzandt

Talk to us about the catacomb bacteria!!!

ariel.vanzandt

Are burials part of the required definition of a catacomb or can they just be for religious practice in general?

Krista Jones

I love catacombs and ossuaries! They're amazing places to connect with the dead and the concept of death in general. As I understand it, they fell out of favor after being blamed for the spread of disease. Nowadays, the walls of soil and stone we place between us and the dead seem impenetrable, and serve our own denial and discomfort with death more than they do those on the other side. Strange question, but do you think society could ever shift back to these more- for lack of a better word- intimate types of graves?

Megan Younce

I was lucky enough to check out the Paris catacombs about a decade ago! So cool. I guess my main question would be how did they come to be a thing?? I can't wait for this episode

Mykenzie King

Any famous parisians in those catacombs? Also any idea why people are so obsessed with them as a tourist attraction? I’m a psych student and so interested in the obsession with macabre things.

Em Holt

have you ever seen anything creepy or unexplained down in the tunnels? :))

Specs Owl

At the ossuary in Denfert-Rochereau in Paris, many bones are stacked together to make a skull and crossbones - what meaning did this have? I don't think it symbolised piracy at that time. Also, at the DF ossuary, there's a strange, thick green ooze that trickles down through the tops of the tunnels at certain points. Any idea what this is? It's like something that would be seen in Doctor Who!

Elizabeth G-L

Please oh please oh please simultaneously make a Smologies episode of this one so that I can share it with my classes. 🙏🙏🙏 XOX & bisous, a French teacher

Ursula Wood

You should talk about the crazy exclusive raves in the Parisian catacombs!!

fleeby

What do the catacombs smell like? I'm imagining sort of a damp basement or root-cellar type smell, but is there any lingering smell of, well, death? Also, what does it say about me this is aspect of the catacombs that I am most intensely curious about?

McKenna F. Law

Are there any records of mummified cats holding small combs in the catacombs

Tiff

First time question asker here. I was wondering how bodies are(were?) prepared for this type of final resting place? They don’t just leave corpses down there that eventually are just skeletons… right? I’ve never really thought about catacombs before and I’m just so curious! Tiff DeGroot “dee-GROOT”

BENJAMIN

Have there been significant people found or discovered in the catacombs?

Michelle Lee

How much planning goes into building a catacombs? Especially if it’s under an existing city, does it impact the foundation of the above ground buildings?

Anna Frazier

is it legal to make your own catacombs or is that only reserved for history?

Kathleen Sachs

What percentage of the Paris catacombs have been mapped? And how many would-be explorers have been found there over the years? How many are believed to still be missing?

Kathleen Sachs

Which catacomb or ossuary is on your bucket list? Which one would you like to visit the most?

Kathleen Sachs

Ever get lost in a catacombs before? Or have any other scary experiences before?

Kathleen Sachs

The Paris Catacombs…are they a cave system that occurred naturally? Or was it all built by humans?

Sam Bringman

What are some of the oldest catacombs? Did they start out as charnel houses and develop into the catacombs we see today? I’m really curious as to why people started collecting masses of bones like that

Hope

Has anyone died getting lost/stuck in the catacombs?

Celeste Finet-Chau

Are there catacombs still operating today and taking in bones? Like, can I request in a will that after x-number of years, my bones get moved to a catacomb somewhere? -Celeste Finet-Chau (Fin-ay Chow)

Felix Wolfe

Who’s bones are in the catacombs?

Felix Wolfe

Was there a design set in place before moving the bones there? Is there significance to the way they are stacked?

Felix Wolfe

Who’s job was it to process the bones? Like who made sure there was nothing left on them and who dug them up?

Felix Wolfe

Are there catacombs other places comparable to those in Paris?

Felix Wolfe

Are there any animal bones in the catacombs?

Rachel Murdock

What's the global distribution of catacombs? I associate it with cathedrals/the catholic church.

Rachel Murdock

What is the difference between a catacomb & a crypt

Rachel Murdock

Does a catacomb have to be human constructed? Or is any tunnel (like a lava tube) used to house the dead a catacomb?

Larissa Parsons Vafiades

Could someone actually live in the Parisian catacombs without anyone knowing? I mean, aside from the undead, obviously.

alicia t

Will catacomb...burying..catacombing (?) eventually be the burial method of the future..?? Can catacombs be everywhere?! or would places such as New Orleans be a bad choice to have a catacomb?? thanks!! ^__^

Malorie Albee

From a fellow bioarchaeologist: Are there ethical concerns with displaying human remains as entertainment in this manner? Do we have contextual information on these remains, such as if they represent marginalized or low socioeconomic status individuals?

AussieColin

Do they ever have problems in modern times with people leaving bodies down in the catacombs?

Pauline Depierre

First time question asker! Does the CO2 from visitors, air pollution and other particles lead to bone deterioration? Are the catacombs subject to flooding? Do you use any specific products to preserve the bones and keep them in optimal condition?

Dr. Niki

Can we discuss the use of human remains for entertainment? Not just in catacombs but also images online, or even selling them 😬

Sienna

Are there non-human animal equivalents to catacombs? If so, what purpose(s) do they serve? [Sienna: (Cee-en-na), Cenere (sen-eh-ray)]

Sienna

Are we currently adding to / making more catacombs in the world? Can you request to be added to a catacomb when you die? Do and regular people have/ keep store human bones (ethically)? Under what conditions is it allowed for people to keep human bones? Can you keep the bones of a loved one who has passed? Can you request that your skeleton be retained for your family when you die? What are some cultural differences in skeleton display and storage? Are there places in the world where it's normal to keep family bones? -First time question asker. I had no idea I had so many questions on this topic.

Victoria Oetting

Can diseases that killed people whose bones ended up in catacombs pose a threat to animals or people who go into catacombs?

Delaney

is going on a tour disrespectful?

Donna Schakelaar

What was the effect of the big floods a few years back on the catacombs? Given the limestone of the area, is there constant seepage? Or does it also drain quickly?

Donna Schakelaar

I read that mushroom farms and the Paris mushroom thrived in the Catacomb tunnels in the past. Are there other fungi peculiar to the Catacombs?

Celiaxolotl

How old are the Parisian Catacombs, and how old is the oldest body ever found in them? Also, are the bodies just chilling in piles down there, or are they in individual crypts/coffins/other containers for dead people?

Lexa

By the way, Hi other Elektra! I heard (y)our name in the episode just now and was like, was that meeee??? Nope, it is you! Good question.