Necrophagy
Necrophagy is the act of eating the flesh of a corpse, and a person who does so is called a necrophage. It is common among animals but is taboo in most human societies.
History
Among animals, hyenas, vultures, lions, crocodiles, and several species of wasps, flies and beetles feed wholly or partly on other dead animals; these are known as necrophages or scavengers. In humans, eating corpses appears in the historical record mainly in wartime, where it served as a means of survival.
Culture
In most human societies necrophagy is taboo. People who eat animals slaughtered for food are not usually called necrophages, since the word carries strong negative connotations; strictly speaking, a necrophage eats corpses. A cited example is the aghori, a Hindu sect that lived in cemeteries.
Legend and fact
According to a Persian source, the British regarded the aghori as necrophages. This is an outside perception transmitted by a single source, so it should be treated with caution.