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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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'Vampire' Unearthed in Venice

Gravediggers took steps to stop corpse feasting on other plague victims

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(Newser) – Italian archeologists have discovered evidence of an ancient vampire-slaying ritual in a 16th-century plague pit near Venice, the AP reports. A female skeleton was unearthed with a brick wedged between her jaws, in what experts believe was an attempt by superstitious gravediggers to stop the corpse from eating through its shroud to feast on the bodies of other plague victims.

Historians say that when mass graves were opened again for reuse during plague outbreaks, diggers would sometimes find bloated bodies with blood in their mouths and holes in their shrouds—all caused by decomposition—and believe the corpses had come to life to drink blood. Scientific texts of the time taught that the plague was spread by "shroud-eaters" seeking to increase the ranks of the undead.

The 16th-century remains of a woman with a brick stuck between her jaws, unearthed in an archaeological dig near Venice, northern Italy.
The 16th-century remains of a woman with a brick stuck between her jaws, unearthed in an archaeological dig near Venice, northern Italy.   (AP Photo/Matteo Borrini of Florence University)
Gondoliers escort passengers along the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. The Venetian plague in 1576 killed up to 50,000 people.
Gondoliers escort passengers along the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. The Venetian plague in 1576 killed up to 50,000 people.   (AP Photo/Betsy Vereckey)
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Vampires don't exist, but studies show people at the time believed they did. For the first time we have found evidence of an exorcism against a vampire. - Matteo Borrini, a forensic archaeologist and anthropologist at Florence University

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riffran
Mar 14, 09 4:18 AM CDT
a brick ....huh.... Reply
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Ioptout
Mar 14, 09 2:42 PM CDT
WHATEVER!
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JonmarkP
Mar 14, 09 5:06 PM CDT
So they should bury Barbara Bush with a brick in her mouth? I'm fine with that. Reply
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riffran
Mar 14, 09 11:20 PM CDT
glad to see a 16th century burial right is the ultimate defense against frail defensless elderly ladies, what ever would we have done.....*gasp* Reply
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Plague outbreak spawned 'dread and superstition'
LiveScience


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archaeology • plague • Northern Italy • superstition • Venice • vampire

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