The remains of a 17th-century female "vampire" with a sickle around her neck and a lock on her big toe were found in Poland. Photo

During archaeological excavations in the village of Pien, Poland, scientists found the skeleton of a woman who could have been a vampire in the 17th century. This is evidenced by a sickle around her neck and a padlock on her big toe.

Such measures were taken in the old days during the burial of "vampires" so that they could not leave the grave, as they were feared even after death. Pictures of the unique find for Poland were published on the Arstechnica website.

Different countries had different ways of burying people who were considered vampires. For example, in the early Middle Ages, Russian peasants exhumed suspicious corpses and destroyed the bodies by cremation, beheading, or stabbing a wooden stake through the heart. Stakes were often placed over the corpses during burial so that the creature would impale itself if it "tried to escape." In Germany and Western Slavic regions, suspected vampires were beheaded and the head was buried between the legs or away from the body.

Leaving a sickle around the neck and a padlock on the thumb is one method.

"The sickle was not laid flat, but worn around the neck in such a way that if the deceased tried to stand up, the head would most likely be cut off or damaged. The lock symbolizes the closure of the stage and the impossibility of returning," explained Professor Dariusz Polinski.

In addition, archaeologists in Poland found a silk cap on the skull of the found skeleton. This led to the conclusion that the woman had a high social status.

The scientists also drew attention to the large front tooth of their find. They suggested that it was the woman's unusual appearance that could have caused superstitious locals in the 17th century to brand her a vampire or a witch.

Archaeologists were surprised that the woman's body was buried with great care. This was a rarity for "anti-vampire" rituals at that time.

The found remains were taken to Torun, where they will undergo a thorough examination.

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