Face of the ‘Vampire’ Woman: A Reconstruction of Pień’s Mysterious Burial

In 2022, archaeologists from the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń made a startling discovery in Pień, near Dąbrowa Chełmińska, Poland: the grave of a young woman buried with a sickle around her neck and a triangular padlock on her toe. This peculiar arrangement quickly earned her the moniker of the “Vampire Woman.” The burial, likely from the 17th century, featured anti-vampire elements—meant, according to some interpretations, to prevent the dead from rising.

Now, a collaboration between scientists and Swedish sculptor and archaeologist Oscar Nilsson has brought her face back to life through meticulous reconstruction, reports Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń.

Using a combination of 3D printing, DNA analysis, and forensic artistry, Nilsson recreated the visage of this enigmatic woman, whose life and death remain a topic of fascination and speculation.

A Combination of Ancient Practices and Modern Science

The discovery of the so-called vampire grave sparked significant interest due to its unusual contents. The sickle placed around the woman’s neck and the padlock on her toe were interpreted as protective measures.

The sickle and padlock found securing the woman’s body. (Andrzej Romański/ Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń)

These grave goods were not necessarily evidence of belief in vampires but rather reflected medieval customs aimed at safeguarding the living from the dead. As noted by Dr. Dariusz…

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