Death - The Last Taboo - Australian Museum

Death - The Last Taboo

Throughout the world, death and the rituals that surround it are steeped in taboos. Explores what happens to us when we die and the different ways we deal with death. Note: this site contains strong graphic images and descriptions.

What is death?

Death is a process rather than an event.

What is death?
The face of death
Signs of death
Defining death
Safety coffins
Stethoscopes

Decomposition

The natural biological process that occurs after death.

Decomposition - Body Changes
Decomposition - Forensic Evidence
Decomposition - Succession
Decomposition - Corpse Fauna
Decomposition: fly life cycle and development times
Decomposition - glossary and references
Stages of decomposition

What happens after death?

Many natural and human processes occur after our death.

Morgues and mortuaries
Who works at a morgue?
Who ends up in a morgue?
Autopsies
Interactive Autopsy
Body disposal - legal procedures
Preparing the body for disposal
My options after death
Preparation for death: stories
Preparation for death - Dorin Hart

Disposing of the dead

Learn more about burial, exposure, preservation and cremation.

Disposing of the dead - an introduction
Disposing of the dead - Burial
Disposing of the dead - Exposure
Disposing of the dead - Preservation
Disposing of the dead - Cremation

Remembering the dead

Cultures mourn and celebrate death in different ways.

Mourning - an introduction
Mourning - Victorian Era
Mourning - Society Islands, Heva ceremony
Mourning - Oro Province, Papua New Guinea
Mourning - Indigenous Australia
Mourning - Jewish mourning
The AIDS quilt
The Days of the Dead - Mexico
Ching Ming

Death - The Last Taboo

What is death?

Decomposition

What happens after death?

Disposing of the dead

Remembering the dead

Galleries

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