[WARNING: In-depth discussion of human remains along with relevant images, some of which may be disturbing.]

In the electric hustle of the mid-1980s, there weren’t many eyes turned toward the loneliest corners of the Canadian Arctic. It was a forward-momentum period, caught up the 20th century’s mach-speed technological progress and cultural change. In all of this movement, it took something quietly monumental to turn heads toward the past and look, quite literally, into its eyes. The world looked into three 140-year-old graves in permafrost, and found three sets of eyes wearily looking back.

Their names were John Torrington, John Hartnell, and William Braine. In Victorian society, they would have faded into the backdrop of the social tapestry. One was a working-class petty officer, another a former shoemaker that had recently joined the Navy, and the third a private in the Royal Marines. In their world, they were perfectly ordinary—but it was their deaths that made them extraordinary. In time, they would be called the Beechey Island or Franklin Expedition mummies, and would become instrumental in helping to solve one of the greatest mysteries in exploration history.

In this first Mummy Monday, we’ll explore the lives and deaths of the Beechey Island trio, as well as their forensic results, cultural impact, and a further look into their unique process of mummification.

Keep reading

the beechey island flowers are haunting me

fill for the square "there is wonder here" @theterrorbingo

inspired by this little passage from "second in command":

Day 13:  This is Halloween

A is the Arctic that lacks healthy food ǀ B is for Blanky’s fork-you attitude ǀ C is the Captain who chopped off his hand ǀ D is the Doctor and his igneous end ǀ E is Erebus who sadly got lame ǀ F is for Franklin who dropped on a flame ǀ G is sweet Goodsir and his poisoned skin ǀ H is for Hickey and his cheeky grin ǀ I is for Irving who liked to save souls ǀ J is for Jeames and his secret holes ǀ K is King William tomfoolery ǀ L is for Little and his jewellery ǀ M is for Marines ready to attack ǀ N is for Neptune who was a good snack ǀ O is the Ocean that’s silent and deep ǀ P is for Peglar who just wants to sleep ǀ Q’s for the Queen, the country and God ǀ R is for Rules that are somewhat flawed ǀ S is for Silna who’s very confused ǀ T is the Tuunbaq whose land got abused ǀ U is for Unrest in the polar snow ǀ V is Vesconte who lost his big toe ǀ W means that now We Are Gone ǀ X is the X-rayed ice mummy bone ǀ Y is the Yardarm from which Blanky dived ǀ Z is for Zero ice boys left alive