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Archaeologists Uncover Skeleton Of 'Vampire' That Was Speared After Death

Archaeologists Uncover Skeleton Of 'Vampire' That Was Speared After Death

The discovery has been described as 'completely unprecedented' by the team who dug it up.

Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers

When you hear the word archaeology you may very well think of Tony Robinson - of Blackadder fame - plodding about in a rainy field, with a trowel in hand, talking about ancient crockery.

Probably doesn't really get your engine going, does it?

How about chariots, spears, and vampires - does that do it for you? If so then you are in luck as history buffs from BBC's Digging for Britain found just that during a dig in East Yorkshire.

The remains of a bizarre ancient vampire-slaying ritual were excavated, as well as a chariot burial site, which is only the third ever found in Britain.

At a dig near the town of Pocklington, archaeologists unearthed a pair of graves that date back to the 3rd century BC Iron Age, which they claim could very well be the remains of a bizarre vampire-slaying ritual.

According to reports in the Independent, the remains were understood to be of two people who came from high society, who may well have been subjected to the creepy ritual.

Experts aren't quite sure why the warrior was speared but say it could have been part of a 'vampire ritual'.
BBC

The first grave contained a male warrior who was believed to have been aged between 17 and 25, and after taking a closer inspection of the remains experts say had probably been pierced with nine spears - five with iron tips and four with bone - after he was dead.

The late warrior was also found to have had his forehead caved in with a wooden club.

Though it's not clear as to why the warrior was killed in this way there are two theories.

According to experts a possible explanation is that he may have passed away due to natural cause - as opposed to having been slayed in combat - and he may have been speared after he was dead in order to give him a 'warrior's death'.

However, others claim the warrior may have in fact been a suspected vampire and in order to 'neutralise' him - as is understood to have been common practice at one time - they stabbed him with spears.

As well as the bizarre vampire remains, the history buffs also discovered the remains of an elderly man who is understood to have been in his 60s or 70s, buried alongside a chariot and his two ponies, which were used to pull it along.

Said to be the first chariot burial with animal skeletons to be discovered in this country the show's experts said the find was totally unexpected.

Narrating the show Alice Roberts says: "The discovery of two animal skeletons transforms this unusual burial into something completely unprecedented."

Digging for Britain will be shown on BBC Four on December 19.

Featured Image Credit: BBC/Hammer Film Productions

Topics: UK News, TV and Film, UK Entertainment