Archaeologists find 17th-century child’s grave padlocked, shedding light on vampire beliefs for Halloween.
Archaeologists in Poland have made a chilling discovery in a 17th-century cemetery, unearthing the remains of a child whose grave had been padlocked. This macabre finding sheds light on the historical belief in vampires, just in time for Halloween.
The child, estimated to be 6 or 7 years old, was interred in a cemetery in the village of Pien in northern Poland. During that era, people regarded ghosts, zombies, and supernatural entities with genuine fear rather than as mere Halloween costumes.
Another disturbing find in the same cemetery was the body of a woman with a padlock on her leg and a sickle placed around her neck, indicating that she was perceived as a vampire.
Dariusz Polinski, a researcher specializing in medieval burials at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, explained that this cemetery likely served as a final resting place for individuals who were both feared during life and after death. They were suspected of having connections to sinister forces and behaving differently from the norm.
The child’s burial was particularly eerie as the remains were found facedown with a triangular iron padlock beneath their foot. This unconventional method aimed to prevent the child from rising from the grave and preying on the living.
Polinski added, “These are people who, intentionally or not, were afraid of any contact with them because they might bite or drink blood.”
Additionally, the child’s grave had been desecrated at some point after burial, with all bones removed except those in the legs. Archaeologists have also discovered other unusual burial practices designed to ward off the undead. Many graves contained stones placed in various locations, such as the elbow, larynx, or neck, believed to protect against the deceased.
