The team of researchers from Torun Nicholas Copernicus University found that the body in the village of Pień had a sickle placed around its neck to prevent her from returning to mortality, as well as a padlock on the big toe of her left foot.

Researchers also discovered the skeletal remains had a silk cap on its head, indicating she had held a high social status and had a protruding tooth.

The researchers said the find was a first for Poland and the discovery was unique.

The unfortunates marked as witches or vampires from time immemorial were feared even after apparent death. People went very far to prevent a return from the tomb.

The skeleton also had protruding front teeth, leading to speculation that her non-standard appearance may have led superstitious locals in the 17th century to brand her a witch or vampire. Photo: Mirosław Blicharski/Aleksander Poznań

Professor Dariusz Polinski, the Nicholas Copernicus University, who headed the team said that this example of the anti-witchcraft practice was unusual.

Professor Dariusz Polinski said: “Ways to protect against the return of the dead include cutting off the head or legs, placing the deceased face down to bite into the ground, burning them, and smashing them with a stone.”

However, in this instance, a different technique that had never before been used on Polish soil—a sickle positioned across the neck—was used.

“It was not laid flat but placed on the neck in such a way that if the deceased had tried to get up most likely the head would have been cut off or injured,” explained Poliński.

Archaeologists also found a silk cap on her head, which the archaeologists say indicates high social status. Photo: Mirosław Blicharski/Aleksander Poznan

Another object in the grave was a closed padlock on the left foot’s big toe. According to Professor Polinski, “This symbolizes the closing of a stage and the impossibility of returning.”

Archaeologists noted that the woman was buried in an unusual manner and with great care, which is surprising given traditional anti-vampiric customs. She had a silk cap on her head, which was very pricey in the 17th century and, according to archaeologists, indicates high social status.

The woman’s protruding front tooth is another eye-catching feature. This has led to speculation that her unusual appearance led superstitious locals in the 17th century to label her a witch or vampire.

Archaeologists first discovered early medieval graves near Bydgoszcz in 2005-2009, when they found high-value grave goods such as silver jewelry, semi-precious stones from a necklace, a bronze bowl, and silk clothing fragments. They returned this year in the hopes of finding more. When they failed to do so,  they focused on a nearby, agriculture-damaged, 17th-century cemetery.

Archaeologists said the way that the woman was buried was also unusual as she was buried with great care, which they pointed out is surprising for classical anti-vampiric practices. Photo: Beata Zielinska-Gołembiewska

The area in the danger was examined by the archaeologists. They discovered the intriguing grave—which they immediately recognized as an anti-vampiric burial—during the course of their work.

The unearthed remains from Pień have been taken to Torun, where they will undergo a detailed examination.