One means of dealing with human remains that seems bizarre today is the ossuary- the disinterment, collection, and often decorative display, of human bones. The macabre practice might seem bizarre to the modern world, but it is surprisingly common throughout history, occurring on multiple continents and in multiple cultures from prehistory to surprisingly modern times.
During the civil war, the manufacture of powder and explosives was often handled by the most vulnerable, young women and children, whose labor was needed when so many men had been sent off to war. On March 13, 1863, the confederacy experienced a munitions disaster, in the confederate capitol of Richmond.