PBS / Sky History

Field of Vampires

In rural Poland, archaeologists have made a terrifying discovery. A skeleton buried with a sickle across her neck and a giant padlock on her toe – double protection against her rising from the grave. This corpse was feared to be a real-life vampire. But she is not alone. Now, an international team of experts use cutting-edge science and historical research to investigate who this enigmatic woman was and why she was so feared. Travelling across Europe and the US, they unearth extraordinary rituals and reveal why some bodies were singled out as the ‘living dead’. Calling upon a pioneering facial reconstructor, can they unlock the secrets of the Field of Vampires?

HEADLINES – click each headline to read more

The Times – “The archaeologist couple who unearthed a field full of vampires“

CNN – “Researchers are learning more about ‘Zosia,’ the 17th century ‘vampire’ buried with a blade over her neck”

Reuters – “Scientists rebuild the face of 400-year-old Polish ‘vampire'”

NBC – “Back from the dead: Scientists rebuild the face of 400-year-old Polish ‘vampire'”

New York Post – “‘Real-life vampire’ considered so dangerous she was padlocked inside grave with a sickle at her neck: archaeologists”

Sky – “‘Vampire’ returns from the dead: Scientists in Poland rebuild the face of 400-year-old woman”

Daily Mail – “Poland’s teenage ‘vampire’ girl up close: Uncovering the skeleton of 18-year-old dubbed ‘Zosia’ pinned with a sickle and padlock to ‘prevent her returning from the dead’ – because she was so feared”

Indy100 – “Archaeologists share disturbing final moments of ‘Zosia the real life vampire'”

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