SOFIA, Bulgaria – Bulgarian archaeologists say they have unearthed centuries-old skeletons pinned down through their chests with iron rods -- a practice believed to stop the dead from becoming vampires.

According to Bozhidar Dimitrov, head of the National History Museum in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, two skeletons from the Middle Ages were found in such a state last weekend near the Black Sea town of Sozopol.

He said Tuesday that corpses were regularly treated in such a way before being buried in some parts of Bulgaria, even until the beginning of the last century.

Widespread superstition led to iron rods being hammered through the chest bones and hearts of those who did evil during their lifetimes for fear they would return after death to feast on the blood of the living.

According to Dimitrov, over 100 corpses stabbed to prevent them from becoming vampires have been discovered across Bulgaria over the years.

"I do not know why an ordinary discovery like that [has] became so popular. Perhaps because of the mysteriousness of the word "vampire," he said.

Originally posted by cetaphobic
reply to post by MmmPie

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Witches do exist.
Not Hollywood witches, though.

Originally posted by Phantom traveller

Originally posted by Domo1
Now I have to worry about zombie vampire skeletons? BRB, ammo.

I didn't know this was a practice and was under the impression that vampires were never taken seriously. I am probably making a huge ass of myself right now for not reading the links...

A very common practice since the belief of vampires in the balcans was(and in some places still is) strong.

My thread about vampires in Greece:

www.abovetopsecret.com...

And another member's thread about vampires in balcans:
www.abovetopsecret.com...

reply to post by xuenchen

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OP very interesting find.Thanks for sharing

edit on 6-6-2012 by Phantom traveller because: (no reason given)