Archaeologists in Poland recently discovered the decapitated skeletal remains of what are likely “vampire” children, based on special 13th-century burial rituals designed to prevent the deceased from rising from the grave.
The remains of two children were discovered by workers clearing tree stumps as part of a renovation project in the gardens surrounding the Uniate Bishops' Palace in Chelm. Chelm is a local site of rich historical and religious significance. According to historical records, the remains were not previously associated with any known cemetery. Based on geological factors and nearby pottery sherds, archaeologists believe the remains date back to the 13th century.
What is interesting about the find is the unusual positioning of the skeletons. The skull of one of the children was deliberately separated from the body and placed face down in the grave, with heavy stones placed on top of the body. The practice of burying face down, together with the removal of the head or stones holding the body, is characteristic of anti-vampire rituals common at the time, particularly in medieval Eastern Europe.
“The burial clearly shows traces of anti-vampire practices aimed at preventing the resurrection of the dead,” said Dr. Stanisław Gołub, archaeologist at the Lublin Voivodeship Monument Protection Officer, who led the excavation. Archaeology NewsAccording to supernatural legends of that time, the dead could come back as vampires and feed on the blood of the living.
Further supporting the idea that the children were believed to be vampires was the proximity of two posts marking the burial site from the east and west. The posts were likely intended to serve as grave markers, suggesting that the burial sites were monitored for possible signs of reanimation.
The discovery adds further evidence of the lengths to which medieval people went to protect themselves from the perceived threat of the undead. In 2022, the remains of a woman buried with a sickle around her neck and a padlock around her toe were also unearthed in Pien, Poland, apparently preventing her from returning from the grave.