In the 17th century, fear of the undead shaped burial practices across Europe, often leading to grim and ritualistic methods of ensuring the dead remained in their graves. Among these macabre discoveries, the story of “Zosia,” a young woman buried in northern Poland, stands out. Her remains, unearthed in 2022 with a sickle across her neck and a padlock on her toe, continue to fascinate researchers and shed light on the folklore and fears of her time.
A Startling Discovery
Archaeologists in Pień, a rural area near Dąbrowa Chełmińsk in northern Poland, stumbled upon Zosia’s unmarked grave during excavations. The site, used as a cemetery for about four generations in the 17th century, contained numerous graves, but Zosia’s burial was unlike any other. The blade across her neck and iron padlock suggested she was believed to be a revenant—a restless dead who might harm the living.
The local nickname “Zosia” humanizes the young woman whose identity and tragic story remain a puzzle. Recently, researchers reconstructed her face using advanced 3D modeling techniques, breathing life into what she might have looked like.
Bringing Zosia Back to Life
Swedish forensic artist Oscar Nilsson played a pivotal role in recreating Zosia’s visage. Using a 3D-printed model of her skull, Nilsson sculpted her face with painstaking detail. The result, as described by archaeologist Dariusz Poliński, was both emotional and haunting.
“He added so much feeling, so much emotion,” said Poliński, a professor of medieval history at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland. “It wasn’t a mask.”
The reconstruction was featured in the PBS documentary Field of Vampires, which premiered on October 30 as part of the series Secrets of the Dead. For Nilsson, this project was about more than science—it was a chance to restore dignity to a young woman whose life and death were shrouded in fear and superstition.
Zosia’s Life: A High-Status Outsider
Zosia was likely between 18 and 20 years old when she died. Analysis of her skeleton revealed she suffered from a health condition that caused chronic headaches and fainting spells. A possible chest deformity suggested she might have had a visible tumor, which could have added to the fear and suspicion surrounding her in life.
Interestingly, her grave contained fragile silk fabric and metallic threads, likely part of a fine headdress or bonnet, indicating she was of high social status. However, chemical isotope analysis suggests Zosia may not have been a local. Her origins point to southern Scandinavia, possibly Sweden—making her an outsider in a community already living in tumultuous times marked by wars between Poland and Sweden and the harsh realities of the Little Ice Age.
A Grave of Fear and Folklore
Zosia’s burial reflects the era’s deep-seated fear of the supernatural. The sickle across her neck was meant to prevent her from rising from the dead, while the padlock on her toe symbolized a form of spiritual restraint.
Poliński and his team believe the grave was initially undisturbed, with Zosia buried in a coffin in a natural position, her head resting on a pillow. However, fear must have driven someone to revisit her grave, twisting her spine in an attempt to subdue her and adding the sickle as an extra measure of protection.
During the 17th century, graves across Europe were often disturbed to prevent perceived revenants from causing harm. The dead were blamed for misfortunes, from disease outbreaks to unexpected deaths. Rituals like placing sickles, staking bodies, or surrounding graves with thorny branches were common practices to keep the dead at bay.
Was Zosia a Vampire?
While Zosia’s burial has earned her the label of “vampire,” historians like Martyn Rady clarify that she fits more closely into the category of a revenant. The literary concept of vampires—creatures that feed on the living—emerged in the 1720s from Habsburg monarchy officials. In folklore, vampires were believed to be contagious, revenant beings who feasted on the living. Zosia’s burial aligns more with regional practices of deterring revenants rather than full-fledged vampire lore.
Other Grisly Discoveries
Zosia’s grave is not the only unusual burial uncovered at the Pień site. In 2023, archaeologists found the remains of a child buried face down, with the torso missing and a padlock beneath the legs. Another grave revealed a pregnant woman with the fetus still in her womb, a rare and haunting discovery.
These findings suggest that the cemetery was a hotspot for anti-vampiric rituals, where fear of the undead dictated burial practices. Researchers are now reexamining other graves from the site to understand the connections between the individuals buried there and the rituals performed.
What’s Next for Zosia?
Poliński’s team plans to publish their findings in a scientific journal next year, providing a deeper understanding of Zosia’s life and the folklore that influenced her burial. By studying DNA samples and geophysical surveys, they aim to piece together the history of the cemetery and the lives of those buried there.
Zosia’s story, though steeped in fear and superstition, offers a poignant reminder of the humanity behind the legends. Her reconstructed face serves as a bridge between the past and present, reminding us that even in death, every individual has a story worth telling.