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Vampires in Čelákovice? Fifty years on from the famous archaeological excavation

Publication

Abstract

The exhibition was organized by the City Museum in Čelákovice in the cooperation with the Centre for Medieval Studies/Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences as well as the Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics of Faculty of Science at Charles University. Its goal is to present a new interpretation of the burial place with so-called 'anti-vampiric measures' in Čelákovice (excavated in 1966) and consistently grabing media interest.

Using radiocarbon dating, it is established to the 13th - 14th centuries and by the methods of taphonomy (archaeothanatology) the new interpretations of some archaeological situations is offered. The resulting interpretation speaks about the isolated burial place determinated for deceased, who were excluded from the common cemetery, for example for those who committed suicide, excommunicated, criminals, vagabonds or another people exluded from the medieval society.