Archaeologists at Nicolaus Copernicus University’s Institute of Archaeology recently revealed the discovery of a young child found buried face-down with an “anti-vampire” padlock.
The child’s body is believed to be from the 17th century and was uncovered near the village of Pien in northern Poland, the Daily Mail reported. The child is believed to be anywhere from five to seven years old, and the padlock was attached to the corpse’s foot.
“The padlock under the foot symbolises the closing of a stage of life and is meant to protect against the return of the deceased, which was probably feared,” NCU archaeologist Dariusz Polinski said of the find. “Such practices originated in folk beliefs and are sometimes described as anti-vampiric.”
Images of the find were shared online, showing the large iron padlock in place.
‘Anti-Vampire’ Device Found In Child’s Grave From 17th Century, Officials Say https://t.co/gHrSqvm0iT pic.twitter.com/61j8XWa41K
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A female corpse was uncovered in the same cemetery in 2022 with a sickle around her neck. The custom is believed to stop the dead from rising and harming the living. (RELATED: ‘Wiped Out In The Blink Of An Eye’: Archaeologist Claims He Has Found The Biblical City Of Sodom)
More than 30 other burials were discovered in the vicinity, including a collection of loose bones that belonged to three other children. A jaw fragment was also uncovered, stained green, likely from a copper coin placed in its mouth, the Daily Mail continued.
A pregnant woman and her five-to-six-month-old unborn child were also found in the grave, which surprised the researchers. “Bones of children of this age are poorly mineralized, so they are usually not preserved,” NCU’s Magdalena Zagrodzka stated.