[Wanda Zippler]

Wanda Zippler  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
I have heard that human bodies were buried inside the Great Wall of China.

If this is true what condition would the bodies now be in?

Would it be possible for the decomposition of the bodies to endanger the Great Wall's structure?

Wanda Zippler
North Augusta, South Carolina, USA

What do you think?

[Ethos]

Would it be possible for the decomposition of the bodies to endanger the Great Wall's structure?

I really don't think there's a problem here, that is unless they all resurrect spontaneously and leave the great wall all at once. Seriously, their decomposing bodies will return to dirt and with the addition of the skeletal structure, it should give added strength to the mass. I don't think there is anything to worry about.................Ethos

[Chemistry4me]

I have heard that human bodies were buried inside the Great Wall of China.

That's not what this fella heard: []

A body buried in the wall would have weakened its structure, so workers were buried nearby instead.

http://www.greatwall-alternative.com/wild%20great%20wall%20guide.htm