In northern Poland, archaeologists discovered a 400-year-old grave that offers insight into how fear influenced burial customs in the 17th century. The remains of a young woman were found with an iron sickle placed across her neck and a padlock attached to the big toe of her left foot.
Grave No. 75 was discovered in 2022 at a cemetery near Pień. This unusual burial stood out because it featured two simultaneous anti-demonic measures. Findings from a new study, recently published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, combine archaeological, genetic, chemical, and isotopic data to reconstruct the woman’s identity and the circumstances of her burial.
Radiocarbon analysis indicates she was buried between 1620 and 1674, with the most probable date falling within that range. The woman was approximately 17 to 19 years old at the time of her death. Her grave also suggests she came from a wealthy family.
Fine metal threads found near her skull belonged to an exquisite silk headdress. Analyses revealed that the threads were made of pure silver and gilded wire. Such materials were expensive in the 17th century, indicating high social status.
Her biological history holds another surprise. DNA testing showed that her maternal lineage belongs to haplogroup J1c2c1, a rare lineage with roots in Scandinavia. Today, this lineage is virtually absent among Slavic populations. However, isotopic analysis of her teeth—formed during childhood—indicates that she grew up near Pień. Her diet tells a less pleasant story. Carbon and nitrogen measurements indicate very low animal protein intake compared to many adults buried in the same cemetery. The results point to periods of poor nutrition, despite her high social status.
Researchers also discovered a green stain around the palate and cervical vertebrae. Chemical analysis ruled out a historical coin as the source of the stain. Instead, the discoloration indicates contact with a copper-rich object or substance shortly before death. The exact cause of the stain remains unknown.
The grave itself offers insight into what happened after burial. The soil layers had been disturbed, and the skeleton showed signs of movement prior to complete decomposition; this implies that when the grave was reopened, soft tissue was still holding parts of the body together.
Traces found later appear to be linked to a sickle. Researchers discovered marks indicating the tool had been moved around the left arm and the northeastern side of the grave. The sickle was then placed across the woman’s neck, with its blade facing her throat.
The sickle’s handle had rotted away, but wood analysis identified it as birch. Historical beliefs in the region sometimes associated birch with protection against evil forces. A padlock placed on the woman’s toe created an additional barrier between the deceased and the living.
Such measures align with anti-demonic burial customs common in Central and Southeastern Europe. People sometimes used sickles, padlocks, stones, stakes, or other objects to prevent the dreaded dead from returning. Some later accounts link these practices to the fear of vampires.
Researchers emphasize the importance of the specific historical context. In the 17th century, disease, famine, and other hardships plagued communities across the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. People sometimes blamed the deceased for misfortunes, especially when a death seemed difficult to explain.
The cemetery itself is unusual. The site does not appear on historical maps, and archaeologists found no Catholic crosses or religious artifacts. Its location—far from the village and near a crossroads—suggests it was a burial ground for individuals who were feared or shunned.
Thus, Grave No. 75 represents more than just an odd burial. The artifacts, human remains, DNA, dietary evidence, textiles, and soil samples point to a young woman whose life was defined by high social status, an unusual background, a poor diet, and a mysterious death.
The cause of her death remains under investigation. Further analysis of her bones may yield more clues about how she died and why her community treated her as a threat after her death.
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