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Vampire myths are a global phenomenon, with nearly every culture having its own version of the legend. The methods to defeat or prevent vampires from rising from their graves are strikingly similar across these tales. While modern science often dismisses these stories as folklore, recent discoveries reveal that our ancestors took them seriously. Over the past few decades, numerous medieval burials have been uncovered, showing brutal treatments of corpses that align precisely with folklore's methods to keep vampires at rest. These graves are not limited to Eastern Europe and the Balkans but have also been found in Western Europe. Here are 8 of the most well-documented cases of medieval vampire burials.
8. Prostejov, Slovakia
In 1991, archaeologists investigating the ancient Holy Trinity Church in Prostejov uncovered a crypt burial in the presbytery. The body was placed in a coffin reinforced with iron bars, a method believed to prevent vampires from rising, as they were thought to be repelled by iron. Stones were also placed on the legs, and the torso was severed from the lower body. Dating back to the 16th century, this burial is unusual due to its location within a church. Some speculate that the sanctity of the church was believed to enhance the effectiveness of keeping the corpse in its grave.
7. Drawsko, Poland
In 2009, archaeologists exploring a medieval cemetery in Drawsko, Poland, made a startling discovery. Three graves revealed bodies that had undergone unusual post-mortem treatments. Two middle-aged adults had iron sickles placed across their throats, while a younger adult was found bound with a heavy stone positioned on their throat. These practices align with folklore, as sharp iron tools were believed to repel vampires, and heavy weights were thought to prevent them from rising. Similar methods have been documented in other vampire burials. The cemetery remains partially unexplored, with more such graves expected to be uncovered in the future.
6. Lesbos, Greece
In 1994, archaeologists exploring an old Turkish cemetery on the Greek island of Lesbos, near Mytilene, uncovered a medieval skeleton buried in a crypt carved into an ancient city wall. While the burial itself wasn’t unusual, the post-mortem treatment of the body was startling. The corpse had been nailed to the grave with heavy iron spikes driven through the neck, pelvis, and ankle. Such practices, involving iron and staking, are well-documented in vampire folklore. Interestingly, the body was likely that of a Muslim, marking the first instance of a non-Christian individual being treated in this manner.
5. Celakovice, Czech Republic
During the early 1990s, archaeologists uncovered what is considered the first known vampire graveyard in Celakovice, located about 30 kilometers north of Prague. So far, 14 graves have been excavated, each containing bodies with metal spikes driven through them or heavy stones placed on top. These burials are thought to date back to the 11th or 12th century. Most of the individuals were young adults of both sexes, and it appears they died around the same time, possibly during an epidemic. The reason why the villagers believed these individuals were at risk of becoming vampires remains unclear.
4. Sozopol, Bulgaria
One of the most widely publicized discoveries in recent years, as a quick Google search will reveal, involves Bulgaria, a country familiar with vampire burials. Over 100 such burials have been found in the past century, mostly in remote rural areas. However, the unearthing of two skeletons with iron spikes driven through their bodies in Sozopol, a popular Black Sea tourist resort, caused a stir. These bodies, believed to be around 700 years old, were buried near a former monastery. Archaeologists confirm that this practice was widespread in Bulgaria until the 20th century, making the country a focal point for vampire burial research.
3. Southwell, UK
In 2010, Britons were shocked to learn that their ancestors were not immune to vampire legends, as previously thought. A deviant burial discovered in 1959 in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, resurfaced in a long-lost archaeological report. The skeleton, dating between A.D. 550 and 700, had metal spikes driven through the heart, shoulders, and ankles. The spike through the heart, in particular, captured public attention due to its association with vampire folklore. While archaeologists dismiss the idea that the individual was considered a vampire, as the burial predates European vampire legends, the discovery has sparked public fascination and renewed interest in British vampirism studies.
2. Kilteasheen, Ireland
The vampire burial trend extended further west with the unearthing of two skeletons in Kilteasheen, Ireland, between 2005 and 2009. These burials, officially labeled as “deviant,” featured a middle-aged man and a man in his twenties buried side by side, each with stones forcefully placed in their mouths. The discovery sparked significant interest in Ireland and the UK, leading to a 2011 TV documentary. Some experts suggest the individuals may have been seen as plague-carriers rather than vampires, as their 8th-century burial predates European vampire legends. Despite this, the vampire burial label has firmly taken root in public imagination.
1. Venice, Italy
While vampire burials have long been associated with the Balkans and Eastern Europe, the epicenter of vampire folklore, they were once thought to be absent in Western Europe. This perception is shifting as archaeological studies of medieval cemeteries in the West reveal that fears of the dead returning to haunt the living were equally prevalent here. A notable discovery in 2006 on Lazaretto Nuovo Island near Venice confirmed Italy’s own vampire burial practices. The skeleton of a 16th-century woman, buried in a plague victims’ cemetery, was found with a large brick forced into her mouth. This aligns with medieval beliefs that vampires chewed through their shrouds, and blocking their mouths was considered a way to prevent them from rising.
