Woman Buried with Sickle Around Her Neck in Poland to Prevent Vampirism

pien, poland - 350-year-old archaeological discovery reveals a woman buried with a sickle around her neck in Pién, Poland, possibly to prevent her from returning as a vampire.

An archaeological investigation in Pién, Poland, unearthed a woman's skeleton buried with a sickle around her neck and a padlock attached to her toe, suggesting fears of vampirism 350 years ago. The villagers believed that deceased individuals could return as vampires, leading to extreme measures like these.

Following the excavation, a team led by Professor Dariusz Polinski and Magda Zagrodzka collaborated with a Swedish company to create a 3D-printed facial reconstruction of the skeleton, named Zosia. The analysis revealed Zosia likely had fair skin, blue eyes, short hair, and prominent incisors, indicating she was around eighteen years old at the time of her death, presumably due to violence.

Zosia was buried with a silk cap on her head, indicating a higher social status. The excavation site yielded a hundred other skeletons, some with coins in their mouths or buried face down. Zosia was unique in having the sickle and padlock, serving as a double protection if she were to rise from the dead - the sickle would decapitate her, and the padlock would prevent her from leaving. Many other skeletons were also found bound, leading the archaeologists to dub the site 'The Vampire Field'.

During Zosia's time, Poland was engaged in conflicts with Sweden, which was experiencing its Golden Age. The cemetery, possibly intended for foreigners, lacked individual markings, hinting at Zosia's potential Swedish heritage. Folk beliefs in vampires were prevalent in Eastern Europe from the 11th century, with the myth spreading across Poland by the 17th century, resulting in unconventional burial practices.