"It was one of the most common forms of burying vampires"

Adding to the mystery, nothing — no jewellery, remains of clothing or coins, not even a button — was found on the bodies.

Archaeologists now believe that the bodies date from the 15th or 16th centuries, when the fear of vampires was widespread in Eastern Europe. Lukasz Obtulowicz, an archaeologist from the monument protection office in the nearby city of Katowice, said there were clear indications that this was the site of a vampire burial, noting that stones had been placed on the skulls. “All this served to prevent the vampires from returning to life,” he said in a television interview.