Paths of the Dead

The Paths of the Dead did not originate as a dwelling-place for the Dead Men. Rather, they were made by the Men of the Mountains, while they were still alive, as part of an underground temple, at least according to a note to the essay The Rivers and Beacon-hills of Gondor (in The Nature of Middle-earth). The Paths seem to have been made late in the Second Age, because their Dark Door was said to have been 'made by those who are Dead' (The Return of the King V 3, The Muster of Rohan). In combination, these references would seem to imply that the Paths of the Dead must have made by the last living generation of the Men of the Mountains, who were later transformed into the Dead Men through the operation of Isildur's powerful curse.

8 March III 3019 is the date that Aragorn led the Dead out of their Paths towards the final fulfilment of their oath, after which the Paths of the Dead would be deserted. The Dead themselves continued to exist for several days, until they were released by Aragorn at Pelargir on 13 March.