What is a charnel house?

A charnel house is a building or room used for the storage and/or display of human skeletal remains. It is typically associated with a cemetery or church and was originally used in medieval Europe to store human bones that were exhumed to make room for new burials. Some charnel houses also serve as ossuaries, with carefully arranged stacks of skulls and bones on display.

In some cultures, charnel houses are considered sacred spaces and are used for religious ceremonies and memorials. In others, they are seen as macabre or disturbing. Modern-day charnel houses can be found in various regions of the world, such as the Sedlec Ossuary in the Czech Republic and the Capuchin Crypt in Rome.