In the heart of Venice, a city renowned for its intricate canals and rich history, archaeologists have made a chilling discovery that seems straight out of a Gothic horror story. A grave dating back to the 16th century has been unearthed, containing the remains of a woman with a brick forced into her mouth—a method believed to prevent the dead from rising as vampires.
This startling find was made during an excavation on the small island of Lazzaretto Nuovo, which historically served as a quarantine station for plague victims. The woman, now referred to as the “Venice Vampire,” was buried among other plague victims, but her grave was markedly different, suggesting that the locals took extraordinary measures to ensure she would not return from the dead.
The practice of placing stones or bricks in the mouths of the deceased was common in medieval Europe, rooted in the belief that it would stop the troubling activities of suspected vampires. These activities were often linked to the spread of disease, as people of the time did not understand the biological reasons behind the plagues and sought supernatural explanations.
The brick found in the Venice Vampire’s mouth was likely placed there by frightened villagers who may have noticed the body bloating or bleeding through the shroud—common signs of decomposition but thought to be evidence of the supernatural at the time. This find adds a significant piece to the puzzle of Europe’s complex history of burial practices and their cultural contexts.
Archaeologists at the site have carefully analyzed the remains and the burial context to gather more insights into the health, diet, and social history of the region. DNA analysis and radiocarbon dating are also being used to better understand the age of the skeleton and the historical period she belongs to.
This discovery not only provides a glimpse into the dark superstitions that haunted past civilizations but also highlights how fear and the human need to find explanations for the unknown can manifest in startling ways. It invites us to reflect on how our ancestors coped with disease and death, and how their practices can still shock and fascinate us today.
The Venice Vampire’s grave will continue to be a subject of fascination as researchers further explore the depths of medieval beliefs and confront the realities of those tumultuous times. This unusual burial not only enriches our understanding of past pandemics and their social impacts but also adds a mysterious chapter to the storied history of Venice.
