Polish archaeologists uncovered a “vampire” graveyard in Poland. They found a female skeleton believed to be a “vampire” pinned to the ground with a scythe across her throat. According to traditional belief, the farming tool will stop her from resurrecting from the dead.

Discovery of a “Vampire” Graveyard

Nicolaus Copernicus University Professor Darius Polinsky and his team are conducting archaeological work in a 17th-century cemetery. They discovered this “vampire” graveyard in the Polish village of Pień and noticed the strange form of the burial. It is similar to the other supposed vampires uncovered in Drawsko town, 130 miles away.

They uncovered the skeletal remains of a female Polish “vampire” with a scythe or sickle placed on her neck. It seems it was placed intentionally to cut her head should she return from the dead. One of the ways to prevent the suspected vampire’s resurrection from the dead was cutting off the legs or head. He also noticed  the big toe locked on the skeleton’s left foot which could possibly indicate the “inability to return.”

“The sickle was not laid flat but placed on the neck in such a way that if the deceased had tried to get up… the head would have been cut off or injured. Other 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,” said Poliński.

Existence of the Vampires

The beliefs of the living dead date back to 11th-century Europe. Folks dreaded that a few of those laid to rest will resurrect on Easter day as vampires. According to the folks living in Eastern Europe, they treat their dead using anti-vampire rituals. They believed that dead people might rise from the dead and suck the blood of the living.

In other parts of the continent, particularly in Slav, many people believed in vampire myths which became widespread causing mass panic attacks. Because of this, it even resulted in people suspected to vampires.

Additionally, they believed that those who have untimely deaths, such as committing suicide, become vampires. They mutilated the body of the dead to prevent them from becoming a vampire. They also believed that sickle saves children, women in labour, and the departed from evil spirits. The farming tool is also believed to thwart black magic and witchcraft.

The female skeleton that Professor Polinsky and his team found was a rich woman. They based their opinion on the pieces of silk, jewellery, and other valuable things. Other graves discovered in the area in the past likewise seemed to be the resting places of other people with higher status.

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