The Culture
A 17th-Century Polish Woman Was Buried With a Padlock and an Iron Sickle
New research examines why a young 17th-century Polish woman was buried with a padlock on her toe and an iron sickle across her neck. Archaeologists say the measures were meant to keep her from rising from the grave. The burial reflects folk beliefs documented across parts of early modern Europe.
Read Full Story at Smithsonian MagazineDiscussSoon← Front Page