Archaeologists have uncovered new details about “Zosia,” a teenage girl whose 400-year-old remains were discovered in Poland in a grave designed to prevent her from returning from the dead.
Zosia was between 17 and 19 years old when she died in the mid-1600s, and researchers found no evidence that she died from violence or disease.
Her burial included a padlock attached to her toe and an iron sickle positioned across her neck, apparently intended to decapitate her if she tried to rise from the grave.
Researchers believe unusual physical characteristics, including a painful breast deformity, may have contributed to villagers viewing her as dangerous or supernatural, possibly during a period of famine or disease, the New York Post has reported.
Despite being treated as a potential “vampire,” Zosia was buried in a high-quality coffin and wore a silk cap decorated with gold and silver thread, suggesting she may have come from a wealthy or noble family.
