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Lifting the lid on amazing jewel-encrusted 'martyr' skeletons

A relic hunter dubbed 'Indiana Bones' has lifted the lid on a macabre collection of jewel-encrusted skeletons unearthed in churches across Europe. Art historian Paul Koudounaris has hunted down and photographed dozens of gruesome skeletons in some of the world's most secretive religious establishments. Incredibly, some of the skeletons, which took up to five years to decorate, were even found hidden away in lock-ups and containers. They are now the subject of his latest book, which sheds light on the forgotten ornamented relics for the first time. Thousands of skeletons were dug up from Roman catacombs in the 16th century and installed in towns around Germany, Austria and Switzerland on the orders of the Vatican. They were sent to Catholic churches and religious houses to replace the relics destroyed in the wake of the Protestant Reformation in the 1500s. Mistaken for the remains of early Christian martyrs, the morbid relics, known as the Catacomb Saints, became shrines reminding of the spiritual treasures of the afterlife. They were also symbols of the Catholic Church's newly found strength in previously Protestant areas. Each one was painstakingly decorated in thousands of pounds worth of gold, silver and gems by devoted followers before being displayed in church niches. Some took up to five years to decorate.

400-year-old remains are adorned with dozens of jewels, gems and a gold leaf crown. In the hollows of the eyes sit two gold brooches, set with a blue gem and pearls. Thousands of skeletons were dug up from Roman catacombs in the 16th century and brought to towns in Germany, Austria and Switzerland on orders of the Vatican. This was in the wake of the Prostestant Reformation, when the following and belief of Catholicism was waning in Europe. (REX/Paul Koudounaris/BNPS)

The skeletal hand of St Valentin is decorated with opulent rings and expensive garments. Each would have taken up to five years to dress back in the 16th century, with thousands of pounds of jewels, silver and gold. They were renamed as saints, although none of them qualified for the title as the Catholic church requires saints to have been canonised. (REX/Paul Koudounaris/BNPS)

The remains of the saints have been laden with thousands of pounds worth of treasured items. (REX/Paul Koudounaris/BNPS)

The decorated skeleton of St Luciana, at a convent in Heiligkreuztal, Germany, was comfort to Catholics whose churches and relics had been destroyed by the Reformation. The practice largely died out after the 16th century. (REX/Paul Koudounaris/BNPS)

The skeleton of St Friedrich at the Benedictine Abbey in Melk, Austria, is pictured reclining under extravagant jewels and gold. (REX/Paul Koudounaris/BNPS)

A decorated skeleton of St Munditia in the church of St Peter in Munich, Germany. The bejewelled skeletons were significant for Catholics in the aftermath of the Reformation as a means to tie believers to the religion in Protestant areas. (REX/Paul Koudounaris/BNPS)

The skull of St Getreu, in Ursberg, Bavaria, is covered by netting and decorated with an extravagant crown and neck brace. The skeletons were said to be saints but in actual fact the remains could have been anyone. (REX/Paul Koudounaris/BNPS)

The decorated skeleton of St Deodatus in Rheinau, Switzerland. The dressed up relics were known as the Catacomb Saints and became shrines, reminding believers of the spiritual treasures of the afterlife. (REX/Paul Koudounaris/BNPS)

A 400-year-old jewel-encrusted skeleton of St Valentinus in Waldsassen, Bavaria. The decorated skeletons were sent to Catholic churches in Europe to replace the relics destroyed during the Prostestant Reformation. It was also a sign of the power and strength of Catholicism in largely Prostestant areas (REX/Paul Koudounaris/BNPS)

A skull covered in netting. (REX/Paul Koudounaris/BNPS)
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