Scientists bring face of 400-year-old ‘vampire’ back from the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ

Scentists say they want to bring Zosia back ‘as a human, and not as this monster that she is buried as’

Remains of the woman found at the 17th century cemetery for rejected people in the village of Pien, northern Poland, are revealed by Polish archaeologists from Nicolas Copernicus University in Torun
Remains of the woman found at the 17th century cemetery for rejected people in the village of Pien, northern Poland, are revealed by Polish archaeologists from Nicolas Copernicus University in Torun (REUTERS)

A woman accused of being a vampire has been brought ‘back from the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ’.

Using DNA, 3D printing and modelling clay, a team of scientists has reconstructed Zosia’s 400-year-old face, revealing the human story buried by supernatural beliefs.

Buried with a padlock on her foot and an iron sickle across her neck, “Zosia” was never supposed to be able to come back.

Entombed in an unmarked cemetery in Pien, northern Poland, the young woman was one of dozens feared by her neighbours to have been a “vampire”.

“It’s really ironic, in a way,” said Swedish archaeologist Oscar Nilsson. “These people burying her, they did everything they could in order to prevent her from coming back from the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ… we have done everything we can in order to bring her back to life.”

Nilsson said he wanted to bring Zosia back “as a human, and not as this monster that she is buried as”.

Zosia, as she was named by locals, was found in 2022 by a team of archaeologists from Torun’s Nicolaus Copernicus University.

The skeleton of a young woman buried with a padlock on her foot and an iron sickle across her neck as a way of allegedly preventing her from rising from the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, is seen in Pien
The skeleton of a young woman buried with a padlock on her foot and an iron sickle across her neck as a way of allegedly preventing her from rising from the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, is seen in Pien (via REUTERS)

Aged 18-20 when she died, analysis of Zosia’s skull suggests she suffered from a health condition which would have caused fainting and severe headaches, as well as possible mental health issues, Nilsson said.

The sickle, the padlock and certain types of wood found at the grave site were all believed at the time to hold magical properties protecting against vampires, according to the Nicolaus Copernicus team.

Zosia’s was Grave No. 75 at the unmarked cemetery in Pien, outside the northern city of Bydgoszcz. Among the other bodies found at the site was a “vampire” child, buried face down and similarly padlocked at the foot.

Little is known of Zosia’s life, but Nilsson and the Pien team say items she was buried with point to her being from a wealthy, possibly noble, family.

The skeleton of a young woman buried with an iron sickle across her neck as a way of allegedly preventing her from rising from the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, is seen in Pien, Poland
The skeleton of a young woman buried with an iron sickle across her neck as a way of allegedly preventing her from rising from the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, is seen in Pien, Poland (via REUTERS)

The 17th century Europe she lived in was ravaged by war, something Nilsson suggests created a climate of fear in which belief in supernatural monsters was commonplace.

Nilsson’s recreation began with creating a 3D printed replica of the skull, before gradually building layers of plasticine clay “muscle by muscle” to form a life-like face.

He uses bone structure combined with information on gender, age, ethnicity and approximate weight to estimate the depth of facial features.

“It’s emotional to watch a face coming back from the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, especially when you know the story about this young girl,” Nilsson says.

Related Posts

The Hoodoos of the Badlands: Stone Sentinels of Time

In the fractured heart of Alberta’s Drumheller Valley, the earth gives way to a surreal and silent congregation—the hoodoos of the Canadian Badlands. These towering, mushroom-capped pillars…

The Anjihai Grand Canyon: The Earth’s Open Archive

In the vast, arid expanse of Xinjiang, China, near the soaring spine of the Tianshan Mountains, the Anjihai Grand Canyon unfolds like a sacred text of geological…

“WE MUST FLEE OR DESTROY IT!” — Elon Musk Declares 3I/ATLAS an ALIEN WARSHIP. A Short Viral Emergency Video Sparks Global Panic Over Humanity’s Survival….

A short, grainy video released late last night has sent shockwaves around the world: in the clip, tech mogul Elon Musk — voice trembling and eyes wide…

The Triclinium of Pompeii – A Frozen Moment of Roman Luxury and Daily Life

Discovered within the ancient ruins of Pompeii, near modern-day Naples, Italy, this lavishly decorated triclinium, or Roman dining room, offers a rare glimpse into the social rituals…

The Dresden Codex: A Painted Sky on Amatl Paper

The Dresden Codex is a bridge of bark and pigment, a fragile survivor from the Postclassic Maya world of the 11th or 12th century CE. As one…

The Stone Scribe of Copán: A Chronicle for the Gods

In the lush, river-fed valley of Copán, Honduras, the Maya of the 8th century CE raised stone testaments to their kings and their cosmos. This stela, carved…