Deviant Burial Activity

Deviant Burial

Activity

Mckai morgan

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Vampire Burial

Middle Ages ;; Europe

During medieval times in Europe, society was deeply influenced by Christianity and Feudalism. Funerary practices varied across the region, but they were similar because most were accompanied by religious rituals. Alternatively, there were instances of what were called Vampire Burials. It emerged after the plague outbreak due to widespread fear. These burials were often disturbing. They involved decapitation, burying the person face down, placing stones in their mouths (picture on the right), and/or placing a sickle over the deceased's neck (picture on the left). People believed that it stopped the vampires from rising.

Vampire Burial

why were they buried that way?

Why is it deviant?

• Belief in the existence of vampires

• Fear of the undead

• Cultural superstitions due to religious belief (i.e. Christianity)

• An attempt to protect communities during the plague and other times of crisis

• Decapitation / Mutilation of the Body

• Burying the dead face down or placing them in unconventional positions

• Placement of objects (i.e. stones/bricks lodged into jaws, sickles placed over the neck)

• Lack of traditional funeral practices

Vampire Burial

Cites Sourced

Watson, T. (2014, November 29). “vampire” graves shed light on fear of the undead. USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/11/29/vampire-undead-graves-poland/19639307/ Gardeła, L., & Kajkowski, K. (2013). Vampires, criminals or slaves? Reinterpreting “deviant burials” in early medieval Poland. World Archaeology, 45(5), 780–796. http://www.jstor.org/stable/26160144