Workers in Poland Unearth Children’s Skeletons in Suspected Anti-Vampire Burial near Historic Cathedral

In Chelm, Poland, workers clearing tree branches near a historic cathedral made an unexpected discovery when they unearthed two children’s skeletons in a shallow burial pit. The skeletons were found without coffins and were located in an unmarked area, according to the Culture Ministry. The burial site did not have any apparent grave markers, which added to the intrigue of the find.

Archaeologist Dr. Stanisława Gołuba, leading the research, noted that one of the skeletons exhibited features characteristic of an anti-vampire burial.

This involved the child’s head being severed from the body and placed face-down on a stone, which is indicative of ancient practices intended to prevent suspected demonic entities from rising from the grave. The orientation and arrangement of the remains aligned with historical methods used to deal with supposed supernatural threats.

The remains are believed to date back to the Early Middle Ages. The children’s skeletons were carefully removed from the site, and documented, and are now awaiting further analysis to gain more insights into their historical and cultural context.

This discovery is part of a broader pattern of similar finds in Poland, where historical burial practices suggest a belief in vampires or other supernatural entities. For example, in 2022, researchers in the village of Pień discovered a woman’s remains buried with a sickle around her neck and a triangular padlock on her foot, both believed to be measures to prevent a vampire from returning from the dead. The sickle was intended to decapitate the corpse if it attempted to rise.

Such practices became more common in Poland during the 17th century due to fears of vampire epidemics. Other discoveries, such as six “vampire skeletons” found in northwest Poland in 2013, also featured burials with sickles or stones placed in specific ways to thwart the dead. These findings highlight a historical pattern of dealing with perceived supernatural threats through elaborate burial rituals.