Bizarre Medieval “Vampire” Found in Pakrac Cemetery - Total Croatia
August the 4th, 2026 – An extremely bizarre Medieval “vampire” has been found in a Pakrac cemetery, with archaeologists believing that the particular method of burial was to “prevent the vampire returning among the living”. Index reports that a very mysterious medieval burial discovered at the Stari Grad Pakrac archaeological site has once again brought attention to ancient beliefs about vampires and the fear of the dead returning among the living. Archaeologists uncovered the remains of a person buried face down, an unusual burial position that experts believe may have been an intentional ritual. According to archaeologist Krešimir Vacek, the way the body was placed suggests that people of the time wanted to prevent the deceased from returning after death. The “vampire” burial likely dates back to the late 13th century and was found at a medieval cemetery connected with the former settlement around Stari Grad Pakrac. Archaeologists have been researching the site for years, uncovering numerous graves and important historical remains. This is not the first unusual discovery of its kind at the location. Earlier excavations revealed another so-called “vampire” burial, a skeleton inside a valuable sarcophagus that was missing its human head. Instead, researchers found animal remains believed to be part of a horse skull. Such practices were linked to medieval beliefs that certain people could return from the grave and harm the living. In medieval Europe, fears of supernatural forces were widespread, and communities sometimes carried out unusual burial practices when they believed someone could become a threat after death. The latest discovery in Pakrac offers another rare insight into the beliefs, fears, and rituals of people who lived more than 800 years ago.