Reports have indicated that archaeologists have made a remarkable find, unearthing the peculiar remains of a 17th-century child buried with a padlock affixed to their foot, a sign that harks back to the medieval belief in the possibility of the dead reanimating as “vampires.”

Researchers, led by Dariusz Poliński from Nicolaus Copernicus University, embarked on an exploration and excavation of graves in an early medieval burial ground known as a “necropolis” near Dąbrowa Chełmińska in Poland, with the aim of uncovering distinctive interments.

Last year, they made a significant breakthrough by uncovering the burial of a young medieval woman.

Her body was doubly safeguarded against potential resurrection, with a triangular padlock secured to her left big toe, and a downward-facing sickle blade placed around her neck.

In their quest for comparable burials in close proximity, the archaeologists have now stumbled upon an unusual and unprecedented discovery: the burial of a 17th-century child, estimated to be around 5-7 years old, the Independent has reported.

The child’s remains were found positioned face-down in the burial cavity, a placement that suggests a certain level of apprehension or fear regarding the deceased’s post-mortem activities.

This distinctive positioning, with faces directed towards the ground, was likely practiced in the medieval era to prevent the deceased from “rising” and posing a threat to the living, as explained by scientists in a statement.

Additionally, beneath the child’s bones, archaeologists came across a triangular padlock similar to the one discovered accompanying the remains of the medieval woman found at the same site last year.

Subsequent analysis indicated that the child’s grave had possibly been tampered with, with a portion of the remains removed.

However, the circumstances surrounding this violation remain unclear, including when it occurred and the reasons behind it.

Written by staff