Some old graves are covered by strange iron structures that can seem mysterious at first glance. These unusual cages are called mortsafes.

They became common during the 18th and 19th centuries, a time when medical schools urgently needed human bodies for study and surgical training.

Freshly buried bodies were often targeted by “resurrection men,” people who secretly dug up graves at night and sold the corpses to surgeons.

For grieving families, this created fear and anger. They felt helpless knowing their loved ones could be stolen soon after burial.

To protect the dead, families began using heavy iron cages placed over graves. These structures acted as a physical barrier against grave robbers.

The mortsafes were not meant to stay forever. They remained only until the body had decomposed enough that it no longer had value for medical use, then they were removed and reused.

Seeing one today is more than looking at old metal. It is a reminder of a time when even the dead needed protection, and cemeteries were places where families defended their loved ones with iron and determination.