Guillotine Executions: What Happened to the Heads

The guillotine, a fearsome instrument of the French Revolution, left countless individuals facing their final moments. When the blade fell and severed the neck, the process was quick and dramatic. But what happened to the heads after execution?

The Fate of the Heads

During the French Revolution, the guillotine was used with astonishing efficiency. As many as 65 people could be executed per hour, from sunrise until sunset. The bodies, along with their severed heads, were often placed in baskets and transported to mass graves.

According to contemporary records and historical accounts, the severed heads and bodies were usually placed in baskets at the feet of the executed. These baskets were then combined into larger piles and dumped into mass graves. It was a chaotic and emotionless process, with no concern for the personal connection between heads and bodies.

Post-Executions: Scientific Interest and Artistic Studies

While the majority of severed heads ended up in mass graves, some found their way into other settings. In one notable instance, a drawing by the artist Gérard David showed the collection of numerous severed heads after guillotining. These heads were sometimes brought to the artist to serve as subjects for his paintings, though they were not kept attached to their bodies.

During the 1800s, a few heads were also utilized for scientific research, contributing to the advancement of forensic and medical knowledge.

The Immediate Effects of Decapitation

Decapitation is a swift and brutal form of execution. Upon severing the neck, several processes immediately set in, all leading to the irreversible end of life. When the spinal cord is cut in the neck, the brain quickly enters a state of terminal shock. The sudden cessation of blood flow to the head and the draining of blood deprive the brain of oxygen, leading to brain cell death.

The brain ceases sending signals to the lungs, causing them to stop working. Within a minute, the brain quickly shuts down, signaling the end of life. The body, deprived of oxygen, begins to die. However, some organs, like the limbs, might exhibit reflexes due to stored energy until the body’s systems fully shut down.

Victim's Final Moments and Burial Practices

Immediately following execution, the severed heads and bodies were often placed in baskets at the feet of the executed. This was a common practice, and it allowed for efficient collection and transportation of the remains. During the Revolution, the bodies with severed heads were subjected to a mass burial process. The baskets were dumped into open graves, with the bodies and heads mingling within.

Efficiency was paramount, and the lack of sentiment toward the executed meant that each head could end up near any body, without any specific arrangement or regard for personal or familial connections.