In Poland, a 17th-Century Burial of a "Vampire" Has Been Discovered

In Poland, archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a woman and child buried in the village of Pien, dating back to the 17th century. Those who buried these individuals clearly considered them to be vampires or possessed by some malevolent force, as measures were taken to prevent their potential return from the grave, as reported by CNN.

Specifically, the bodies were tied to the coffins, with the woman having a lock on her foot and a sickle around her neck, indicative of her "vampiric" nature. The child, around six to seven years old, was buried face down with a triangular iron lock beneath their foot. Over time, the child's grave was desecrated, with all bones removed except for the legs.

"It's a graveyard for outcasts who were undoubtedly feared both in life and in death. They were suspected of having contact with dark forces, and their behavior was perceived as unconventional," said Dariusz Polinski, a researcher of medieval burials at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun.

Additionally, archaeologists found other graves where measures were taken to prevent the potential resurrection of the deceased.

"There were many graves with stones placed in various locations, such as the elbows, throat, or neck, to protect against the deceased," Polinski added.

Such burials were not uncommon in Europe during that era. Uneducated villagers feared malevolent forces and believed that under certain circumstances, the dead could rise from their graves. Therefore, the measures taken appeared reasonable to people of that time.

In related news, a family in Norway's Yomfruland Island set out to search for a lost gold earring but stumbled upon Viking-era artifacts over 1,000 years old in their backyard. Experts believe that a woman's grave may lie beneath a large tree in their garden. Archaeologists suspect that the buckle found at the site dates back to the period between 780 and 850 AD.

While there may be more treasures hidden beneath the surface, excavations on this site cannot proceed due to legal restrictions. Researchers plan to employ alternative methods to uncover the island's secrets.

The discovered artifacts are currently being temporarily stored in the municipal offices of Vestfold and Telemark counties, but they will soon be sent to the Museum of Cultural History in Oslo for thorough examination, identification, and dating, as per archaeologists' recommendations.