History of paranormal investigation

The belief of spirits and ghosts has been around since the beginning of time. Many old, ancient cultures practiced animism, the belief that everything, even rocks, has a spirit. So the history of ghost goes as far back as the history of humans. 

“One of the earliest known ghost “sightings” in the west took place in Athens, Greece. Pliny theYounger (c. 63–113 AD) described it in a letter to Licinius Sura (c. 74 BC–7 AD), a Stoic philosopher, decided to rent a large, Athenian house, to investigate widespread rumors that it was haunted.” (Pennsylvania Paranormal Research Team, 2009)

 “The first poltergeist was reported centuries later at a farmhouse in Germany in 856 A.D.” (History Channel, 2012)

Since Pliny’s investigation was the first to be documented, it is reasonable to say it was the first to paranormal investigation. 

The history of paranormal investigation is not greatly recorded. But what we do know is that ancient cultures believed in spirits and that ghost stories have been passed through the centuries. Also it is natural for human beings to be curious and investigate what they don’t know. 

This leaves a few questions to think about;

• Are ghost stories paranormal evidence? and
• What makes an investigation valid?

  Most importantly, whose idea was it to start investigating
  paranormal phenomena?


Figure 1 shows an old photo, with a ghost behind a soldier.

  Looking for more information?

             History.com history of ghost stories page
             GhostlyCast.com history of paranormal research page

Figure 1

This picture was found at about.com's paranormal phenomena page.