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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Explosion near CRPF School in Delhi caused by lit cigarette butts: Report
New Delhi: The investigation team that probed the explosion that took place outside the CRPF School in the Prashant Vihar area of the city on October 20 morning has reportedly not found any terror force behind the blast.
The investigation team, consisting of Delhi Police and staff members from central agencies, has stated in its report that cigarette butts thrown by a local resident might have come in contact with industrial waste and have caused the explosion. Circumstantial evidence does not show the incident to have a terror angle to it, reports The Indian Express.
The Delhi Police, the city bomb squad and the fire brigade had rushed to the spot following the explosion, which was initially believed to have been caused by a crude bomb. The forensic experts who inspected the spot hinted at the presence of potassium chlorate, hydrogen peroxide and some electrical wires there. The school wall had been damaged and the windows of a car nearby had shattered in the explosion.
The investigation team scanned the CCTV camera footage and zeroed in on around 10 people questioned. A senior police officer said that a North Delhi-based businessman from Prashant Vihar was found to be present at the spot around five minutes before the explosion, as he had come there on Sunday morning to walk his dog. The CCTV footage showed him smoking and, after questioning him, the team concluded that he had left lit cigarette butts before leaving the spot, the officer added.
The spot where the explosion took place is learned to have been usually used for dumping garbage and also has a public urinal.
An officer has said that the Delhi Police had consulted forensic and technical experts of the National Security Guard regarding the things found on the explosion site but are yet to get the report. The officer added that they have found no detonator so far.
