Scientists reconstruct face of 400-year-old ‘vampire’ buried with sickle across her neck in Poland
Pien: Scientists have unveiled the reconstructed face of a woman known as Zosia, who was buried over 400 years ago in Poland and labelled a vampire by the local community.
The remains of Zosia were discovered in 2022 by a team of archaeologists from Nicolaus Copernicus University in an unmarked cemetery in Pien. Archaeological findings indicated that she was buried with a padlock on her foot and an iron sickle across her neck, as reported by Reuters. Among other bodies found at the site was a “vampire” child buried face down, similarly padlocked.
The research team found that items such as the sickle, padlock, and specific types of wood found at the grave site were believed to possess magical properties intended to protect against vampires.
"It's really ironic; these people burying her, they did everything they could in order to prevent her from coming back from the dead. We have done everything we can in order to bring her back to life,” Swedish archaeologist Oscar Nilsson was quoted as saying by the news agency.
Nilsson noted that Zosia lived during a tumultuous time in 17th century Europe, a period marked by war and widespread fear, which likely fuelled beliefs in supernatural creatures. Aged 18-20 when she died, analysis of her skull suggested she may have suffered from a health condition that caused fainting and severe headaches, as well as possible mental health issues.
In a Facebook post, Nilsson shared that, according to legend, Zosia was initially buried only with a padlock. However, when villagers began experiencing a series of unexplainable bad luck, they felt compelled to take additional precautions.
"They opened her grave, found the padlock now open, and in great panic placed the sharp blade of a sickle over her neck," Nilsson wrote. "In case she would arise," he added.
The reconstruction process involved creating a 3D printed replica of Zosia's skull, followed by meticulously layering plasticine clay to recreate her facial features.
Nilsson aimed to bring Zosia back “as a human” rather than as the “monster” she was buried as. He expressed that it is emotional to watch a face coming back from the dead, especially when one knows the story of this young girl.
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TMC leader killed in Bengal's Birbhum
Kolkata (PTI): A local Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader was murdered by unidentified assailants in West Bengal's Birbhum district, police said on Saturday.
Rajbehari Sardar (65), TMC's booth chief in Patisara gram panchayat, was stabbed and severely beaten up by around five-six people at a function in Nanoor area around 10 pm on Friday, a police officer said.
Sardar was taken to Mangalkot Hospital in neighbouring Purba Bardhaman district where he was declared dead by doctors, he said.
The deceased's son alleged that Sardar was killed by members of a rival faction of the party.
The local TMC leadership said Sardar was a committed party worker and was popular in the area, but claimed that there was no report of the involvement of anyone from the party in the murder.
"We demand a thorough and prompt investigation into the incident," a local TMC leader said.
