Unearthing the Grave of a "Vampire Child" in Poland: Shackles on the Leg and a Green Jawbone
Date: 2023-09-19 Author: Dima Zakharov Categories: WORLD
The Unearthing of the "Anti-Vampire Grave"
Archaeologists from the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń made the intriguing discovery in Piła, within the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship of Poland. This marks the second instance of such a "anti-vampire grave" within the same locality. In 2022, researchers from Toruń University found the burial of a woman in the same area, buried in an exceptionally unconventional manner, indicative of suspicions of vampirism. The woman was buried with a sickle placed around her neck and a padlock attached to her toe.
In this recent case, archaeologists stumbled upon the grave of a child, mirroring the characteristics of last year's discovery of the "vampire woman." Dr. Dariusz Poliński, a professor of medieval and modern history at the Faculty of Historical Sciences and the leader of the archaeological research, emphasized the significance of uncovering these new "anti-vampire" graves within the context of interpreting the specific cemetery's purpose.
The Unusual Burial Practices
The child, estimated to be between 5 and 7 years old, was interred with their head facing downwards, and a padlock securely fastened to one of their toes—reminiscent of the previous discovery. Such actions were taken when there were fears regarding the deceased and their potential actions after death.
Archaeologists also noted another intriguing detail. Much like the last year's find, the jawbone of the child was coated with a greenish residue. According to the researchers, this phenomenon could be attributed to the presence of copper coins placed within the deceased's mouth just before burial.
