Cemetery of the Outcasts: Archaeologists Discover 17th-Century “Vampire Graves”
Polish archaeologists have discovered a record number of so-called outcast graves in an ancient 17th-century rural cemetery in the village of Peń (Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship).
These are the burials of people considered dangerous to society during their lifetime and after death, according to the Nauka w Polsce portal.
For over 20 years, a team of scientists led by Professor Dariusz Polinski of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń has been excavating near the village of Peń.
One of the most striking sites is an unmarked cemetery containing the remains of approximately 100 local residents.
According to Professor Polinski, at least 12 of the burials were made in a special ritual manner. This may be the largest cluster of “anti-vampire” graves in Poland.
The most unusual finds
A woman between 30 and 50 years old, suffering from late-stage syphilis. Due to disfiguring changes in her appearance, she was considered a vampire.
Archaeologists found heavy stones on her arm and left side of her torso—a “magic lock” intended to prevent the dead from rising and attacking the living.
The famous “vampire Zosya” is one of the most famous finds. Her throat was pinned to the ground by a sickle, and a lock was placed on her toe.
Scientists also excavated the grave of a boy named Vladimir, whose body was also covered with stones. Residents clearly feared that after death, the child might return and harm fellow villagers.
The grave of a 25-year-old pregnant woman, completely covered with stones. The burial of a 60-year-old woman, with large boulders pressed deeply into the ground around her head.
Another rare find is a joint burial of a young man and a two-year-old child. The child’s bones lay at the man’s feet, with his arms extended upward.
Such paired burials of men and children are extremely rare, leading archaeologists to speculate that a special protective ritual was also performed here.
Such finds remind us that in the past, people feared not only the living but also the dead. “Vampire Zosya,” a pregnant woman, and little Vladimir—all were buried with particular cruelty, ensuring their eternal permanence.
This is vivid evidence of how fear and superstition ruled the lives of our ancestors. Even centuries later, these “outcasts” continue to tell their stories through the stones and sickles that were meant to anchor them in the earth.
It was previously reported that the supposed burial site of the vampire Count Dracula had been discovered. Scientists claimed to have excavated the burial site of the ruler of Wallachia known as Dracula.
