During archaeological excavations in northern Italy, scientists managed to find the grave of a 13-year-old girl, buried face down. This method of burial means that the girl was rejected by the community during her lifetime, and even after death was considered dangerous to people.
The skeleton was found in the San Calochero complex in the city of Albergo by a team of archaeologists from the Pontifical Institute for Christian Archeology at the Vatican. The ancient church, on the territory of which the burial place of the "girl-witch" was discovered, dates back to the 5th-6th centuries. It was finally abandoned in 1593. Presumably, the grave dates back to the early Middle Ages.
Professor Stefano Roascio, who leads the excavation, says: “Taike burials are very rare. Like other unusual methods of burial (with a brick in the mouth, decapitation, dismemberment of the dead), burial face down indicates some kind of punishment and rejection of a person by the community during life.
According to popular beliefs, these methods of humiliation of the dead will prevent them from rising from the grave. " No traces of violent death were found on the remains of the teenager. However, scientists managed to find traces of a congenital hereditary blood disease that could affect the girl's appearance. The investigation of the remains of the "witch girl" continues.
