Sir Walter Raleigh's head depicted during his life, prior to the emergence of its anomalous properties.

Item #: SCP-7164
Object Class: Euclid
Special Containment Procedures: Archaeological and mortician personnel are to take appropriate measures at their own discretion to preserve SCP-7164's tissue. A vacuum filter must be running constantly to absorb the insects spawning from SCP-7164. When not in testing, SCP-7164 is kept in a climate-controlled storage unit. Regular conversations to prevent the degradation of SCP-7164's mental health can be assigned to Junior Researchers at the discretion of supervising personnel.
Description: The animate, decapitated and desiccated head of Sir Walter Raleigh1 has been designated SCP-7164. The skull has been removed, replaced by tobacco leaf, with the outer layer of skin being partially mummified. SCP-7164 is blind but not deaf. Both of its eyes are missing, as well as the external ears, eyelids, and lips. All of SCP-7164's hair has fallen out apart from a few strands. Despite its desiccation, the stump is warm to the touch and generates 2.5ml of human viscera per day. DNA testing has matched this biological material to samples from Sir Walter Raleigh's living descendants.
SCP-7164 speaks in a mixture of modern and old English and can accurately recall memories of Sir Walter Raleigh as far as can be historically documented. SCP-7164 is generally passive in its communications and has never initiated conversation. When it is not speaking, SCP-7164 is inert beyond its matter-generative properties.
SCP-7164 is constantly spontaneously generating ants, beetles, maggots, and earwigs from within its internal tobacco leaves. These are of varying species and are always in their adult form. After emerging from SCP-7164's varying orifices they will immediately begin attempting to consume SCP-7164, but will otherwise behave normally if removed from SCP-7164's vicinity.
The Foundation recovered SCP-7164 from a private collection after videos documenting its properties were found being circulated by bootleg videotape distributors. Upon its discovery, SCP-7164 was being kept in a velour handbag.
Addendum: SCP-7164 Interview Logs
04/18/1999 Interview Log

Interview Participants: Dr. Bill Schulz
Subject: Origin of anomalous properties
<Begin Log>
Researcher Schulz: The recorder has been activated. This is Researcher William Schulz, interviewing SCP-7164 on April 18th, 1999. Can you hear me, SCP-7164?Researcher Schulz: I wanted to go through a few of the different theories you've given regarding your origin.Researcher Schulz: You've claimed that both the Bavarian Illuminati and the Stonemasons may have been responsible for your current state?Researcher Schulz: So you're not standing by those claims?Researcher Schulz: Speaking of exploring, what about El Dorado? You spent a lot of time abroad, looking for treasure. Did you ever see anything odd, something you couldn't explain out there in the new world?Researcher Schulz: Nobody sticks out in your mind, none of the people you met over there, maybe, that one of them could have done something to you or said something to you?Researcher Schulz: Sure.Researcher Schulz: Well, perhaps if we knew more, we could assist-SCP-7164 did not respond to further inquiries.
<End Log>

08/22/2001 Interview Log

Interview Participants: Doctor Ahmad Almossawi, SCP-7164
Subject: Queen Elizabeth I
<Begin Log>
Doctor Almossawi: This tape is being dictated by Doctor Almossawi, on the twenty-second of August in the year 2001. I am speaking to a head called SCP-7164.Doctor Almossawi: I know. One of the people who knew you before that was the Queen, right? Elizabeth the first. We have another Elizabeth on the throne right now, actually, did you know that?Doctor Almossawi: What was your first impression when you met? I would imagine you don't forget the first time you meet a Queen. It's never happened to most people, I've never had it.Doctor Almossawi: Could you elaborate on that, you knew Elizabeth for many years so surely she would hear you out eventually.Doctor Almossawi: But if she was so cold to you, then you should have known she was not interested in you.Doctor Almossawi: She was famously afraid of that, of aging and death, if our historical sources are to be believed.Doctor Almossawi: I see. We don't have to continue this avenue of conversation if it's upsetting you, I've got everything I needed for today. Thank you, SCP-7164. I'll speak to you again soon.<End Log>

12/02/2007 Interview Log

Interview Participants: Doctor Ahmad Almossawi, SCP-7164
Subject: Excerpt taken from a larger interview on an unrelated topic.
<Begin Log>Doctor Almossawi: Oh, yes. We're taking every measure to ensure that, not to worry.Doctor Almossawi: That's our job. We're here to keep you going, to learn from your experience so we can better understand the universe?Doctor Almossawi: It is more convenient, yes, when we can speak to you. I can't talk to you anymore if you're inert.Doctor Almossawi: I'm sorry, Sir Walter. I'm afraid that's outside my control.Doctor Almossawi: I'm sorry, I think this is the end of the interview today. We can talk more soon, okay?Doctor Almossawi: I'm sorry.<End Log>

Footnotes
1. English explorer, 1552-1618