Per 
Item #: SCP-139
Object Class: Keter
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-139 is to be kept in a room at least six meters at its smallest dimension free of any windows, suspended at least two meters from the nearest inside surface of the room in a cage by a chain. No one is to enter this room under any circumstance or directly observe the skull. The room is never to be left without at least two armed guards at any moment.
Description: The object appears on the surface to be the poorly preserved skull of a hominid missing the lower jaw bone. Also of note is the extreme wear, especially to the eye sockets.
The skull was analyzed by the Foundation's leading anthropologist but due to the extreme wear none of them could come to a consensus about the species, only that it is hominid. A few believed it is a Neanderthal skull, owing to the size of the skull's eye sockets, but there is debate that could have been the result of wear. If so their original size would have been much smaller, not unlike that of a modern human. However, none of them could explain the ridge at the top of the skull. While this feature is most commonly associated with prehistoric herbivorous species of hominids, acting as an anchor for heavy jaw muscles which help them to chew plants; One anthropologist pointed out that it could also have been used to assist in killing prey if it had sharp teeth. There is no general consensus at this time.
When first discovered, the skull was located in a small town just south of the Takht-e Jamshid (Throne of Jamshid) by Douglas Winthrop. Takht-e Jamshid has been determined to be a modern Farsi name for Persepolis. Perseopolis being the former ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire (also called the First Persian Empire).
At the time the skull was suspended in an iron and copper cage 15 meters in the air from a cliff using an iron chain. The chain was permanently attached to the cliff face via a fully enclosed loop of metal embedded in the cliff. A pulley was also present, however it was attached to a wall erected on the edge of the cliff. The pulley was used to lower food and water down towards the skull as offerings.
When the people were asked about the skull they referred to the skull as the skull of the Div-e Sepid. In ancient lore, Div-e Sepid is the chieftain of the Divs (demons) who is skilled in magic and has great physical strength. The Div-e Sepid in legend destroys the army of Kay Kavus (A mythological Shah of Greater Iran) by using his magic to create a storm of hail, boulders and tree trunks. He then blinds and imprisons Kay Kavus, his paladins and commanders. Afterwards he is defeated by Rostam (Rostam is the greatest hero in Persian mythology) who takes Div-e Sepids head as a trophy, often depicted wearing it on top of his head.
According to the townspeople, the skull had been brought to their town by a "mad man" who had slain many men. When they discovered the power of the skull it was contained and put in its current position. They also stated that the reason they would regularly give it food and water as offerings was to try and appease the spirit of the Div-e Sepid so that their town would be spared it's wrath. When asked why nobody would take it down and move it far away from the town most people said they were too scared to look at it, let alone touch it, then stating: "The spirit of the Div-e Sepid is trapped inside and whoever touched it would be possessed by the spirit."
Winthrop ignored them, despite repeated warnings and took the skull down by striking the iron chain with a steel rock chisel he had for archaeological excavation. Afterwards he quickly made his way back to England. Soon after arriving in England he became extremely aggressive, slaughtering fifteen of his friends. He then killed ██ people before being shot to death by several police officers.
Despite Winthrop's aggression he was not in possession of the skull as it was confiscated by the University of Shiraz under the Shah's authority. After the confiscation no new research became of it as everyone was extremely fearful of what would happen if they conducted any experimentation or study. Soon after it disappeared from the University. It was presumed stolen by the University and they concluded not to pursue after who stole it, as most students feared it. It is currently unknown who stole it if anyone in fact did.
The artifact surfaced next in the Yukon, ninety kilometers from the Alaskan border. The entire community of Caribou Crossing (what is known today as Carcross, Yukon) was found brutally murdered by multiple stab wounds. [REDACTED] was found inside the stab wounds. The corpses were found stacked in a large pile in the center of the chapel. On top of the pile of corpses was the skull. It is unknown how it managed to get on top of the pile due to research indicating everyone was deceased before the skull was moved there.
The artifact has since been in our custody. Being transported with no casualties in a hermetically sealed transport vehicle from the town to Site-██. The town was checked thoroughly for any anomalies before the town was [DATA EXPUNGED]. All bodies were cremated and disposed of without incident. Neighboring communities were amnesticised accordingly.
Its properties are currently unknown as no research has been conducted. Researchers hypothesise that it is potentially an extremely dangerous memetic hazard. Upon prolonged exposure to SCP-139 it is theorized to cause extreme aggression and violence in subjects and upon observation extreme fear or paranoia. It is also theorized it may be capable of self transportation via unknown means. It is unknown why our containment procedure even works.
No research is planned.
[Level 4 authorization required]
SCP-139 is an extremely dangerous memetic hazard causing fear upon being observed or mentioned. It also poses a serious cognitohazard. We don't know the exact conditions but anyone who holds it too long, observes it for too long, speaks about it too long, or even thinks about it too long has a chance to become highly aggressive towards other humans around them and loses all higher brain function. They will attempt to kill on sight and seek out more victims in an unknown amount of area. As even photographs are capable of causing the effects, the above photo is of a recreation.
We don't have an exact figure for how long you have to be exposed to develop the effects as it has varied greatly between subjects. But all cases have shown the full effect between an hour and seconds. Our testing has also shown anyone affected to have supernatural levels of endurance and durability, being able to take multiple bullet wounds to the head and even surviving [REDACTED]. Currently, amnestics fully reverse the effects if administered within the first minute.
By order of the 05 no further testing is allowed.
