Eastern Europe has long been famous for the legend of "immortals", so it is not surprising that Polish mortals in the Middle Ages were especially afraid that vampires could return to life. And although most people in the region have long forgotten these suspicions and superstitions, archaeologists working near the village of Guzhitsa have unearthed evidence that the locals once tried to eradicate these evil monsters.
Digging up burials dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries, the team discovered the skeletons of three people who were most likely considered vampires during their lifetime. All three were disfigured in some way and had holes in their spines. This suggests that during their burial they were nailed to the coffin in order to prevent a possible “awakening”.
Female burial
One of the skeletons belonged to a woman who, according to scientists, suffered from kyphosis. This condition, which is characterized by a crooked back, was the cause of her unnatural posture. This explains why other people might be afraid of her.
While this is not conclusive evidence of vampirism, the locals most likely gave the woman no chance. Before burial, they broke her knees, and placed her face down in the coffin and nailed her to him.
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How the "vampires" - men were buried
Archaeologist Krzysztof Sokha from the Kostrzyn Fortress Museum says that the man buried nearby may have also suffered from kyphosis. During the funeral, he was beheaded.
The third body, which also belongs to a man, was found in an unusual position: his head was clamped between two stones. This is probably another method that allows you to prevent the return of a corpse to life.
The found graves are located along the perimeter of the cemetery. All those buried in them differ from the others in mutilation. In addition, they were buried along an east-west axis with their arms folded neatly over their chests or placed at their sides. Anna Pismenna
