Locals went to great lengths to ensure ‘undead’ 6-year-old stayed buried.
A Disturbing Discovery Sheds Light on Paranormal Beliefs in Early Modern Poland
In a fascinating archaeological find near the city of Bydgoszcz, evidence of a suspected “child revenant” has been unearthed, providing new insights into the paranormal beliefs of some Poles during that time period.
The discovery, made by researchers from Nicolaus Copernicus University, was found in a 17th-century cemetery.
According to Dr. Dariusz Poliński, the corpse of a 6-year-old child was discovered locked inside a grave, with a padlock attached to its big toe.
“The child was buried face down and in a prone position, ensuring that if it were to rise from the dead, it would only encounter dirt,” explained Poliński.
This treatment of the corpse was driven by the locals’ fear that the child would return to haunt them.
In 17th-century Europe, the dead were thought to rise again & bedevil the living. Now, researchers in Poland have found the remains of a suspected child revenant. Buried face down with a padlock by its foot the 400-year-old corpse was locked to its grave. https://t.co/M2xQ6SDdic pic.twitter.com/sMi4surAH2
— Jon Hutson (@JonHutson) September 30, 2023
Interestingly, the bones of the corpse had been looted from the grave, except for its lower legs.
Polish folklore of that time was filled with tales of vampire-like ghostly beings who craved the blood of the living and wreaked havoc in their homes.
The cemetery where the locked corpse was found was known as a place for “abandoned souls excluded by society,” according to Poliński.
Another grave nearby contained a sickle, intended to behead the corpse of a woman in case she rose from the dead.
Professor Dariusz Poliński from the Nicholas Copernicus University explained:
‘The sickle was not laid flat but placed on the neck in such a way that if the deceased had tried to get up most likely the head would have been cut off or injured’ pic.twitter.com/i39PdBOvgx
— Metro (@MetroUK) September 5, 2022
In another discovery from 18th-century Poland, a collection of bones and human remains revealed rituals and practices aimed at warding off supernatural entities.
The post Real Life Horror: Locals Took Special Measures to Keep ‘Undead’ 6-Year-Old in Her Grave appeared first on The Western Journal.
How did the burial practices and paranormal beliefs in early modern Poland reflect the cultural mindset, religious beliefs, and fear of the unknown during that time
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This discovery provides an intriguing window into the beliefs and fears of early modern Poles regarding the supernatural and the afterlife.
During the 17th century, superstitions and beliefs in ghosts, witches, and revenants were widespread throughout Europe. Poland was no exception, as evidenced by the burial practices found in this cemetery near Bydgoszcz.
The ritualistic treatment of the child’s corpse, including burying it face down and attaching a padlock to its toe, reflects the deep-rooted fear that the deceased would rise from the grave and bring harm or misfortune upon the living.
Polish folklore from that era is filled with stories of vampire-like creatures and malevolent spirits who possessed supernatural powers and were believed to drain the blood of the living.
These paranormal beliefs were deeply ingrained in the cultural fabric of early modern Poland and influenced the customs and rituals surrounding death and burial.
According to Dr. Poliński, the cemetery where the child revenant was discovered was a place designated for “abandoned souls excluded by society.” This suggests that individuals who were believed to be a threat to the community, either due to their suspected supernatural abilities or social outcast status, were interred in this cemetery.
The presence of the sickle in another grave nearby further emphasizes the anxiety and precautions taken by the locals. It was intended to decapitate the corpse of a woman in case she rose from the dead, ensuring that she would not return to wreak havoc on the living.
These burial practices and supernatural beliefs reflect the prevailing cultural mindset and religious beliefs of that time, combining elements of Christian theology, local folklore, and a deeply ingrained fear of the unknown.
While modern science has largely dispelled these superstitions, the discovery of this suspected child revenant in early modern Poland provides a fascinating glimpse into the beliefs and fears of our ancestors. It serves as a reminder of the profoundly human need to make sense of the mysterious and unexplainable, even in the face of the irrational and supernatural.
Further research into the burial practices and paranormal beliefs of early modern Poland will undoubtedly shed more light on the cultural and historical significance of these ancient rituals and their enduring impact on the collective imagination of the Polish people.
The excavation near Bydgoszcz stands as a testament to the importance of archaeological discoveries in unraveling the mysteries of the past and enriching our understanding of the human experience. It reveals how even in death, the beliefs and fears of our ancestors continue to reverberate through time.
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