Rare 'Vampire' Skeleton with Spikes through Heart Unearthed in Britain

A 'vampire' skeleton dating from 550-700 AD with metal spikes through ankles, shoulders and heart was unearthed in Britain, according to reports.

The discovery, detailed in an archeology report by Matthew Beresford, cited the place of discovery as a minster town of Southwell, Nottinghamshire. According to Beresford, the Skelton was unearthed by archaeologist Charles Daniels during the original investigation in 1959.

In UK only very few such skeletons have been discovered till now. The skelton was found tied with iron clamps, suggesting that the person of the skeleton was dangerous when alive.

"Throughout the Anglo-Saxon period the punishment of being buried in water-logged ground, face down, decapitated, staked or otherwise was reserved for thieves, murderers or traitors or later for those deviants who did not conform to societies rules: adulterers, disrupters of the peace, the unpious or oath breaker," said Beresford, as quoted by the Daily mail.

Beresford said the remains of the skeleton may be still lying there as Daniel found it difficult to dig out the carcass completely. The burial was believed to be a 'deviant burial', which is done to prevent the rise of dangerous people from the grave.

"It is believed to be a 'deviant burial', where people considered the 'dangerous dead', such as vampires, were interred to prevent them rising from their graves to plague the living," the Daily mail report cited.

John Lock, chairman of Southwell Archaeology, said no one knows why the body was in such position.

"People would have a very strong view that this was somebody who, for whatever reason, they had a reason to fear and needed to ensure that this person did not come back," Lock added.

Earlier in June, two vampire skeletons were excavated near the Black Sea city of Sozopol.The skeleton of two men were found with iron rods stabbed though the chest area.