Mysterious grave of ‘vampire’ decapitated to stop it rising from the dead discovered in Knights Templar fortress

THE sedate of a “vampire” whose assemblage was decapitated to halt it rising from the dormant has been discovered successful a medieval fortress.

More than 180 burials person been recovered astatine Račeša, a suspected stronghold of the Knights Templar successful eastbound Croatia, 70 miles southeast of Zagreb.

But 1 stands retired – the sedate of a middle-aged man, whose assemblage was exhumed soon aft death, past beheaded, and reburied with the torso look down.

It’s a desecration that can’t beryllium explained by biology factors, and experts judge it was a deliberate effort to halt the deceased from returning arsenic a vampire.

Archaeologist Nataša Šarkić said: “Even though helium initially was buried successful accordance with Christian doctrine, his remains were aboriginal relocated successful a unusual arrangement.

“His caput was removed from the assemblage and his thorax was placed successful the prone position.”

She continued: “The mode the assemblage was arranged could not beryllium explained by immoderate biology force.

“This was a quality intervention, and it occurred portion the brushed insubstantial was inactive present.

“Meaning that idiosyncratic opened a freshly-buried grave, cautiously separated the skull, and turned the thorax onto the stomach.

“There indispensable beryllium a crushed for that.”

The desecration has been blamed connected a suspicion of vampirism.

According to Dr Šarkić, content successful vampires persisted successful Slavic countries adjacent aft they adopted the Christian faith.

She noted the lawsuit of Jure Grando Alilović, a Croation villager who died successful 1656, and is described arsenic a vampire successful humanities records.

Neighbouring Serbia offers different illustration – Petar Blagojević, who died successful 1725, and whose assemblage was staked done the heart, and burnt arsenic a suspected vampire.

Further suspected vampire burials person besides been recovered successful Poland.

Dr Šarkić said: “The diagnostic of vampires is their adjacent indestructibility.

“For that reason, precautions were taken to forestall the transmutation of the recently dormant into vampires.

“The astir communal mode to bash this was to destruct the corpses of those thought to beryllium astir astatine hazard of becoming a vampire, specifically by driving a involvement done the corpse's heart.

“But different methods were besides viable, including burning the corpse, and beheading the corpse, earlier burying the caput betwixt the feet and legs.

“There was besides burying it upside down, oregon covering the corpse with a heap of stones to measurement it down.

“The thought was to forestall the ‘vampire’ from rising from the dead.”

The Račeša “vampire” is estimated to person been betwixt 40 and 50 years aged erstwhile helium died.

He lived successful the 15th oregon 16th century, and was buried wrong what seems to person been a church, successful the “the astir disfavoured spot” on the wall.

Since determination are nary chopped marks connected his neck, skull, oregon shoulders, it seems apt his caput was pulled from his body.

His remains present archer the communicative of a beingness marked with violence.

Dr Šarkić said: “He exhibited important markers of occupational stress, indicating helium had engaged successful a batch of carnal enactment passim his life.

“What catches our attraction are injuries that amusement that helium had sustained galore traumatic events astatine assorted points successful his life.#

“Some of these injuries appeared to beryllium the effect of accidents, portion others intelligibly indicated interpersonal violence.”

She continued: “Throughout his lifetime, helium participated successful astatine slightest 3 antithetic conflicts.

“Each resulted successful superior injuries that near a salient scar connected his face, which whitethorn person made his quality rather intimidating.

“While helium was inactive recovering from his astir caller onslaught – wherever helium had breached ribs that were inactive healing – helium was killed successful a consequent assault.

“This onslaught progressive a sharp-bladed weapon, apt a sword.

“He was struck doubly successful the head, and since determination were nary signs of the coiled healing, we reason that helium succumbed to his injuries immediately.”

These factors could bespeak helium was a knight oregon soldier.

But they could besides marque him a risky proposition for those who fearfulness vampires.

“According to tradition, a vampire is often seen arsenic an aggravated tone with the tendency to harm others,” said Dr Šarkić.

“This fig tin correspond a idiosyncratic who deviated from assemblage norms during their lifetime, displaying sinful and convulsive behaviour.

“It whitethorn besides beryllium idiosyncratic who died violently and seeks revenge.

“In the lawsuit of the ‘vampire’ from Račeša, respective factors marque him an fantabulous campaigner for the anti-vampire intervention.”

But helium wouldn’t person matched the modern “Hollywood” thought of a vampire.

Dr Šarkić said: “Unlike the aristocratic vampires known for their airy tegument and slender figures, vampires from Balkan folklore were often described arsenic bloated, long-nailed, and having a ruddy oregon acheronian complexion.

“This statement aligns with partially decomposed corpses.

“Therefore, immoderate corpse successful an precocious signifier of decomposition tin lucifer a vampire.”

Dr Šarkić and her colleagues, Roberto Cighetti, Sofie-Kristin Schendzielorz, and Marija Mihaljević, published their findings successful Military Orders and Their Heritage.