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in the acrylic glass-sided stupa stuns visitors into silence. Inside there are nearly 9,000 skulls (although numbers ranging from 5,000 have also been published) which were excavated in 1980. The skulls, grouped by age and gender, are arranged at eye level, while other bones are placed on the higher levels. One can see many skulls that were shattered or smashed in from being bludgeoned. [Since bullets were scarce & expensive, most prisoners were blindfolded, made to kneel at the edge of the pit, and were bludgeoned to death. Some weren’t quite dead when they were buried alive a bit later.] Visitors are asked to take their shoes off before climbing the steps to view the skulls & bones as a sign of respect.
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Asia
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