Unusual Jobs: Exploring 10 Vanished Professions from History

2. Resurrectionist: Body Snatchers for Science

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the field of medicine was in dire need of human corpses for research and anatomical study. However, the practice of dissecting human bodies was largely illegal in many regions. Enter the resurrectionists, commonly known as body snatchers. Operating in a legal gray area, these individuals often worked in teams, stealing corpses directly from graves to supply medical schools and practitioners in the name of scientific advancement.

September 10, 2023 | 5:07 pm