A woman who lived 400 years ago/Reuters
Scientists created 3D face model of a girl who lived in northern Poland in the 17th century. She was buried according to a special rite, because they believed that she was a vampire.
Female remains were found in 2022 by archaeologists from the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Poland. She was buried in an unnamed cemetery in the town of Pen, near the city of Bydgoszcz in the north of the country. This is reported by Sky News.
Local residents named the unknown woman Zosaya. When she was buried, an iron sickle was fastened around her neck, and a lock was locked on her leg. This was done so that Zosia would not “resurrect from the dead”.
To “reanimate” the girl, researchers used her DNA, 3D printing and modeling clay. Zosia was between 18 and 20 years old at the time of her death. Scientists believe that during her life she fainted, suffered from severe headaches and may have had mental illnesses.
A woman who lived 400 years ago
Experts began the reconstruction by printing a copy of the skull in 3D -printers.Then layers of modeling clay were gradually applied to it to create a realistic face. To reproduce the girl's features, the bone structure was combined with data on gender, age, ethnicity and approximate weight.
In a way, this is ironic. The people who hid her did everything to prevent her from coming back from the dead. And we did everything possible to bring her back to life, said archaeologist Oskar Nilsson.
Little is known about Zosia's life, but researchers assume her noble origin. The woman lived in the 17th century. Due to the devastation of Europe after the war, people's faith in supernatural beings was on the rise. In the same area where Zosia's grave was, a “vampire child” was found. She was buried face down and also “immobilized” with a lock on her leg.
A woman who lived 400 years ago