Archaeologists discover a "vampire burial" for children on an ancient Roman site

TUCSON, Arizona – Archaeologists from the University of Arizona and Stanford University, as well as Italian archaeologists, discovered the body of a 10-year-old child on an ancient Roman site, suggesting that child would have been buried dead.

The skeletal remains included a skull with a stone intentionally introduced into the mouth. The researchers believe that the stone may have been placed there as part of a funeral ritual intended to contain a disease such as malaria.

"I've never seen anything like it – it's extremely strange and strange," said David Soren, an archaeologist at the University of Arizona.

The discovery was made at La Necropoli dei Bambini, or the cemetery of babies.

The cemetery dates back to the middle of the fifth century when a deadly epidemic of malaria fell on the region and killed many young children and babies.

Until now, archaeologists believed that the cemetery was designed for infants, toddlers and unborn fetuses. In previous excavations, a 3-year-old girl was the eldest child.

Now, archaeologists are looking into whether the cemetery was also used for older children.

"There are still sections of the cemetery that have not been searched yet, so we do not know if we will find older children," said Jordan Wilson, a bioarchaeologist at the University of New York. Arizona.

In previous excavations, archaeologists have found traces of witchcraft, including toad bones, talons and bronze cauldrons.

"We know that the Romans were very concerned about this and even went so far as to use witchcraft to prevent the evil – anything that contaminates the body – from going out," Soren said.

Although the body undergoes DNA testing, the child has a dental abscess, a side effect of malaria, suggesting that the child may have died as a result of the disease.

Archaeologists believe that the rock was intentionally inserted after death because of the position of the jaw.

These types of burials are called "burials of vampires" because they are associated with the belief that the dead could resurrect.