Archaeologists have discovered the unusual remains of a 17th-century child who was buried in a footlock.
Scientists said that the medieval people may have feared that this dead child could come back to life as a ‘vampire’.
Researchers including Darius Polinsky from Nicolaus Copernicus University Poland explored the graves in a medieval cemetery near Dabrova Chelminska in the region and discovered this unique burial style during excavations.
Last year they also discovered the strange burial of a young medieval woman whose body had been heavily guarded to ‘keep it out of the grave’ and her left big toe had been removed. A triangular shaped lock was attached and a sickle was placed around the neck of the corpse.
Archaeologists searching for other similar graves nearby have now uncovered the unusual burial of a five- to seven-year-old child from the 17th century.
The child was buried face down, suggesting that people feared the corpse and its ‘activity’ after death.
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In a statement, the scientists explained that such burials, which are face down, were probably done in medieval times to ‘bury’ the body in the ground to ensure that So that they do not prove to be a ‘threat to people’.
Archaeologists also discovered a triangular lock beneath the child’s bones, which was placed in approximately the same location as the remains of a medieval woman. The remains of a woman were also discovered at this location last year.
An analysis suggested that the child was possibly cremated and part of the body was removed, but it is not known when or why this happened or what was done with the remains.
The researchers also discovered a ‘surprising pile’ of several child skeletons near the child’s grave, the jaws of which had been painted green.
A similar green coloration was also seen on the palate (upper part of the mouth) of the woman discovered last year, scientists said.
Researchers suspect that an object made of copper alloy may have been placed in the woman’s mouth.
During field research they also discovered an unusual burial of a pregnant woman with the remains of her unborn child apparently preserved.
Scientists hope further laboratory tests will lead to DNA testing of the remains to determine the woman’s eye color, skin, hair and possible genetic disorders.
Given the large number of unusual graves at the site with traces of strange medieval practices, scientists suspect that people of the time were ‘scared’ of at least some of the dead.
They said that the area was possibly part of a cemetery possibly associated with the Protestant sect and specifically those who had been rejected by the community.
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#Poland #Remains #locked #vampire #child
**Interview with Darius Polinsky, Lead Archaeologist from Nicolaus Copernicus University**
**Host:** Welcome, Darius! Thank you for joining us today to discuss this fascinating discovery of the medieval ‘child vampire’ burial in Poland.
**Darius Polinsky:** Thank you for having me! It’s a pleasure to share our findings.
**Host:** To start, could you tell us a little bit about the burial site and what you uncovered?
**Darius Polinsky:** Certainly! We’ve been excavating a medieval cemetery near Dabrova Chelminska. Recently, we discovered the remains of a five- to seven-year-old child from the 17th century, buried face down, which is quite unusual. This burial suggests that the community had significant fears about the child potentially returning as a ‘vampire’ or a malevolent spirit.
**Host:** That’s intriguing. Why would a community bury a child in such a manner? What does this reveal about their beliefs?
**Darius Polinsky:** These types of burials, particularly the face-down position, were likely a method to prevent the deceased from rising again. In medieval times, people often associated unexplained deaths or diseases with supernatural phenomena. People suffering from conditions like tuberculosis were frequently believed to be vampires due to their pale appearance and unhealthy symptoms. The burial was a way to ensure the individual would pose no threat.
**Host:** You also found a triangular lock with the child’s remains. Can you explain the significance of that?
**Darius Polinsky:** Yes, the triangular lock is fascinating and resembles the one we found with the remains of a young woman last year, who was also buried with precautions. The presence of such locks suggests that the community took elaborate measures to secure the deceased. It implies a broader cultural practice of protecting the living from perceived threats posed by the dead.
**Host:** This is not the first peculiar burial you’ve uncovered. What similarities have you noted between this child’s burial and the previous woman’s burial?
**Darius Polinsky:** Both burials involved precautions that point to a deep-rooted fear of the dead. The young woman was buried with her left big toe removed and a sickle around her neck—intentions suggestive of wanting to bind or control her after death. The child’s face-down position paired with the lock underscores this shared cultural anxiety, reflecting a community grappling with death and its uncertainties.
**Host:** It seems like your work could shed light on the broader beliefs of medieval society. What do you hope to learn next?
**Darius Polinsky:** We are eager to continue our investigations in this area and explore more graves to understand better the burial practices and beliefs surrounding death in medieval Poland. Each discovery adds pieces to the puzzle of how past societies navigated unexplained phenomena and their concepts of life and death.
**Host:** Thank you, Darius, for sharing your insights with us today. This truly is a captivating exploration into our past.
**Darius Polinsky:** Thank you for having me! It’s always exciting to discuss our findings and their implications.