Unusual burial discovered in Swiss cemetery

In 2014, Swiss anthropologist Amelie Alterauge examined a unique burial found during an excavation in a centuries-old Swiss cemetery. The grave, among about 340 tombs, contained a man buried face down in a neglected part of the cemetery. Researchers found an iron knife and a purse filled with coins in the hollow of his arm, suggesting they were hidden under his clothing.

Coins help date the burial

The coins found with the body helped archaeologists estimate the man's death occurred between 1630 and 1650. This period coincided with a series of plagues in the region. Alterauge noted the body may have been buried in a state of decomposition or due to fears of infectious disease.

Study on medieval burial practices

Alterauge's research, published in the journal PLOS One, analyzed nearly 100 face-down burials in German-speaking Europe over a 900-year period. The study suggests a shift in funeral practices linked to epidemics and the belief that the dead could return to haunt the living.

Burial customs during the Middle Ages

During the Early and Central Middle Ages (about 500 to 1250), face-down burials were often placed in the center of cemeteries behind churches or inside sacred buildings. Some were buried with jewelry, refined clothing, and writing tools, suggesting nobles and high-ranking priests may have chosen this method for humility before God. Pepin the Short, a historical figure, reportedly requested to be buried face down in front of a cathedral in 768 as penance for his father's sins.

Increase in face-down burials during plagues

An increase in face-down burials in Europe started in the 1300s, coinciding with devastating plagues beginning in 1347. As people died faster than they could be buried, the sight and sound of decomposing bodies became common. These conditions may have influenced Slavic legends of the undead, though there is no direct evidence for vampire beliefs in Germany.

Shift in ghostly folklore

Before the 1300s, medieval stories in German-speaking Europe described benevolent ghosts. However, during epidemics, these ghosts transformed into revenants or the undead. Matthias Toplak, an archaeologist at the University of Tübingen, noted this shift to bad spirits occurred around 1300 or 1400. Medieval folklore describes nachzehrer, a type of vampire that consumed itself from the inside, and wiedergänger, corpses that could leave their graves to track down their communities.

Burials as protection from the undead

The study found an increase in face-down burials on the outskirts of Christian cemeteries between the 14th and 17th centuries. Researchers suggest this practice was used to prevent malicious corpses from returning. Other explanations include symbolic attempts to ward off ill fortune or divine punishment for community sins. Petar Parvanov, an archaeologist at the Central European University, noted face-down burials could have been a way to signal societal penance.

Future research on medieval burials

Sandra Lösch, co-author of the study and head of the physical anthropology department at the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the University of Bern, suggests future research could examine the DNA of individuals in these burials to identify specific microbes from plague outbreaks. Isotopic analysis of bones and teeth may also reveal dietary or geographical differences among the victims. Alterauge hopes that re-examining old excavation archives will uncover more examples of unusual medieval burials.