Poland archaeologists uncover 17th-century child's padlocked

Reports indicate that archaeologists have recently uncovered the preserved remains of a child dating back to the 17th century. Notably, the child's foot was found affixed with a padlock, a discovery that experts suggest reflects the prevailing fears during medieval eras about the potential resurrection of the deceased as vampires. Dariusz Poliński, part of the research team from Nicolaus Copernicus University, spearheaded the excavations within a medieval "necropolis" burial ground situated near Dąbrowa Chełmińska in Poland. Their objective was to unearth distinct and unusual burial practices from that time.

Last year, researchers achieved a significant breakthrough by unearthing a burial site belonging to a young medieval woman. Intriguingly, the woman's body was found to be doubly safeguarded against any possibility of reanimation. Specifically, a triangular padlock was secured to the big toe of her left foot, while a downward-pointing sickle with a blade was positioned around her neck.

In their pursuit of locating similar interments in the area, archaeologists have unveiled a fascinating revelation. They have stumbled upon an unparalleled burial site containing the remains of a child, estimated to be around 5-7 years old, dating back to the 17th century. The child's remains were discovered interred face down in the burial cavity, indicating a prevalent fear of posthumous activity. Historically, such burials with downward-facing faces were conducted during medieval times in the region, possibly to prevent the deceased from posing a threat by "biting" into the earth.

In addition to the child's bones, a triangular padlock was found, resembling the one found in the burial of a medieval woman at the same site last year. Analysis suggested potential disturbance of the child's grave, with a portion of the body likely removed. However, the circumstances, timing, and reasons behind this occurrence, as well as the fate of the missing remains, remain unknown.

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Researchers discovered a group of children's skeletons, one of which had a green-coloured jaw fragment near its grave, reminiscent of a similar tint found in the mouth of a woman excavated last year.

The presence of copper alloy in the person's mouth is suspected. In another non-standard burial, a pregnant woman was found with her fetus remarkably preserved.
Scientists plan to perform DNA testing on the discovered remains for insights into the woman's physical attributes and potential genetic conditions.

The remarkable graves found at the site suggest strong medieval fears associated with the deceased. Experts speculate that this area might have been a cemetery, possibly for the Protestant community, especially those marginalized or excluded from society.

Photo: TVP