Belief in the existence of an afterlife is inherent in the vast majority of people around the world. Almost every religion directly promises worthy eternal joy in the heavenly booths - if a person believes in this, then a priori admits the possibility of immortality.
Perhaps this is where the origins of the legends about vampires, widespread in Europe, lie. And today, articles about the existence of bloodthirsty dead do not shock the layman: perhaps we will not even be surprised to meet a vampire at the threshold of our own house. Moreover, even scientific research confirms the reality of ghouls - here, for example, several archaeological finds that can convince even an ardent skeptic.
Dravsko. Poland
Eastern Europe is considered almost the birthplace of vampires. Archaeological research confirms that medieval peasants not only believed in the existence of ghouls, but also quite successfully fought them. In 2009, one of the historical expeditions came across a strange crypt in the Polish town of Dravsko: three tied bodies with torn fangs and iron sickles on their throats. According to legend, this is the traditional way to kill a vampire once and for all.
Lesvos. Greece
Promotional video:
Excavations at an old Turkish cemetery have brought an unexpected find to archaeologists: a coffin whose occupant is tied up with heavy iron rods. Locals told scientists that this is how vampires have long been killed in Lesbos, using the power of iron over the living dead. The analysis of the bone tissue also showed the age of the burial - it turned out that the inhabitants of Lesbos met a vampire only half a century ago.
Celakovice. Czech Republic
It's time to return to Europe again. In the mid-90s, a group of archaeologists discovered an entire vampire cemetery in Celakovice, located just thirty kilometers from Prague. Bodies pierced with iron stakes were removed from fourteen graves, the lids of the coffins were decorated with crosses and other occult symbols. Moreover, all the "vampires" were killed young - what could force the villagers to commit such a global crime?
Sozopol. Bulgaria
For those who are seriously interested in vampire themes, Bulgaria can be a real treasure of information. Until the middle of the 20th century, quite fresh graves were found here, the bodies of which were mutilated in accordance with all the rules of vampire hunters. About twenty years ago, not far from the resort town of Sozopol, a whole cemetery was accidentally uncovered with many staked graves.
Venice. Italy
From the 12th century on the island of Lazarus there was a Venetian leper colony, then the victims of the bubonic plague were buried here, and by the 16th century people generally preferred to get away from the "accursed" island further away. But in 1717, the Armenian Catholic monk Manuc di Pietro established a monastery and church here, turning the island into a center for Orientalist studies. The island lost its notoriety and became popular - even Byron lived for some time in one of the monastery cells. In the diaries of the great poet, historiographers found mention of strange creatures that seemed to wander around the church walls at night. The story is worthy of the rich fantasy of a master of the word. But maybe it's not just fantasy. In 2006, during the opening of the former plague cemetery, several coffins with the remains of "vampires" were raised to the surface. Iron bars were squeezed between the teeth of the skull:it was believed that a vampire could literally gnaw its way out.
Kilteshin. Ireland
In 2009, two skeletons were found near the Irish city of Kilteshin, whose ribcage was pierced with steel stakes. Everyone's teeth were gripping a stone, and their hands were tied behind their backs. They even made a documentary about the strange find - it turned out that the indigenous inhabitants of this area always knew about the vampires living nearby, and in the Middle Ages there were even whole families specializing in tracking and killing bloodsuckers.
Southwell. Great Britain
The prim Britons have never been prone to excessive mysticism. Nevertheless, the existence of vampires was believed here as well. In 2010, archaeologists uncovered a number of crypts scattered around Nottinghamshire. All the remains found in them (more than 50 bodies were found in total) underwent the same procedure: the heart was cut out, the upper canines were ripped out and the thumbs were cut off. This is exactly what one of the surviving sermons of a local shepherd who lived in the XIV century recommended to fight the bloodsuckers.