Could this prove that vampires exist…?
Vampires have long fascinated us and stories of what they are capable of have been told for centuries.
From Dracula to Edward Cullen, there are all sorts of vampires out there in the fictional world.
But these stories had to start somewhere, right?
Well, a “real-life vampire” may have been discovered in Poland.
The skeleton, discovered two years ago at a medieval cemetery in Pień, has drawn attention for its unusual burial methods, meant to prevent the deceased from “rising again.”
The remains belong to an elite young woman, believed to have been around 18 years old at the time of her death, who has been named “Zosia” by researchers.
Based on reconstructions, Zosia may have had fair skin, blue eyes, short hair, and a distinct protruding incisor tooth – features that could have contributed to suspicions of vampirism.
Zosia’s social rank was evident from a silk cap found on her head, a symbol of high status.
Despite her elite standing, Zosia was buried under circumstances suggesting fear rather than honor.
Archaeologists discovered that her body was secured with a sickle across her neck and a heavy padlock on her toe.
“It can be assumed that for some reason those burying the woman were afraid that she would rise from the grave. Perhaps they feared she was a vampire,” explained Professor Dariusz Polinski, who, along with his colleague Magda Zagrodzka, has led extensive research on the burial site, per the Daily Mail.
The sickle, according to Polinski, served as “double protection” against Zosia potentially rising from the grave.
Positioned just above her neck, it would have decapitated her if she attempted to sit up.
“The sickle was not laid flat, but placed on the neck in such a way that if the deceased had tried to get up, most likely the head would have been cut off or injured,” Polinski explained.
Working alongside Polinski and Zagrodzka, forensic expert Oscar Nilsson created a facial reconstruction of Zosia.
Using a digital scan of her skull, Nilsson employed a 3D printer and clay modeling to recreate Zosia’s facial structure, and then used silicon to approximate her skin.
His work has provided a detailed glimpse into her appearance.
Forensic artist Oscar Nilsson is tasked with reconstructing the face of “Zosia,” a woman buried as a vampire in 17-century Poland – and hopes to restore her human dignity in the process. “Field of Vampires” premieres Wednesday, October 30 at 10/9c on PBS. pic.twitter.com/90bLiTahmB
— Secrets of the Dead (@SecretsPBS) October 28, 2024
Further investigation into Zosia’s bones, conducted by medical investigator Dr. Heather Edgar of the University of New Mexico, revealed an abnormality in her breastbone, indicating a possible physical deformity.
“The abnormality suggests there might have been a physical deformity that caused her great pain and ‘marked this person [to others] in a negative way,’” Edgar explained to the Times, potentially leading to fears of vampirism among her contemporaries.
The graveyard, dubbed the “Field of Vampires,” contained approximately 100 other graves, of which around 30 showed signs of being restrained in some way.
These included individuals buried face down, others weighed down with stones, and some with coins placed in their mouths.
Among these graves were those of a partially exhumed child, a woman with advanced syphilis, a pregnant woman, and a man with a child’s remains at his feet.
According to Polinski, the cemetery likely served as a final resting place for individuals excluded from society, yet all graves were unmarked, and no historical records mention the identities of those buried there.
“Ways to protect against the return of the dead include cutting off the head or legs, placing the deceased face down to bite into the ground, burning them, and smashing them with a stone,” Polinski said, noting that Zosia’s sickle was an especially severe measure.
Spooky.
