Ancient Polish grave protected woman from undead return

Archaeologists in Pień, Poland, investigated a 17th-century grave and determined someone intentionally prepared the body of a young woman, known as Zosia, to prevent her from rising from the dead.

The team, led by Dariusz Poliński of Nicolaus Copernicus University, found a sickle placed across Zosia’s throat and a padlock on her left big toe. These items, previously found in other European graves, were believed to restrain and protect against the undead.

Zosia’s remains suggest she was between 17 and 19 years old when she died and likely grew up near Pień. Chemical analysis of her teeth indicated possible Scandinavian ancestry in her mother’s family. She was buried with luxurious items like a silk cap containing silver and gold threads, suggesting she held high social status.

Researchers also noted greenish stains on her skull, possibly from copper placed in her mouth or nose, a practice meant to ward off evil spirits in Polish folklore. The Pień cemetery itself appears unusual. It lacks historical records and was located away from the village, potentially indicating it was used for outcasts or those feared in life and death.

Another grave within the cemetery held a boy buried face down with a padlock on his foot, and his remains were later disturbed. The archaeologists continue to analyze Zosia’s DNA hoping to uncover more about her death and the reasons for this elaborate burial.