Zombie Scare in 8th Century Ireland Revealed?
- Posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:33pm by
Christopher Santarelli
- Print »
- Email »
The presence of zombies and vampires in pop culture has seen a revival of late, but the superstition traces its roots back to Haitian culture. Discovery News reports that Archeologists have unearthed two 8th-century skeletons in Ireland with evidence of zombie precautions that predate the emergence of zombie and vampire folklore:
“One of the men was between 40 and 60 years old, and the other was a young adult, probably between 20 and 30 years old. The two men were laid side by side and each had a baseball-sized rock shoved in his mouth.
‘One of them was lying with his head looking straight up. A large black stone had been deliberately thrust into his mouth,’ Chris Read, head of Applied Archaeology at IT Sligo, said.
‘The other had his head turned to the side and had an even larger stone wedged quite violently into his mouth so that his jaws were almost dislocated,’ he added.”
The researchers had originally thought they discovered a Black Death-related burial ground because vampire slaying rituals, involving sticking stones in the mouths of corpses, took place during the Middle Ages.
“It was believed that these ‘vampire’ individuals spread the plague by chewing on their shrouds after dying. In a time before germ theory, the stone in the mouth was then used as a disease-blocking trick.”
However, considering these skeletons date back to the 8th century, researchers cannot link the corpses’ condition to the vampire scare that began in the 1500s. Chris Read speculated to Discovery that the corpses could have had stones lodged in their throats to prevent their evil spirits from escaping the grave.
“The two Irish men could have been considered potentially dangerous people, such as enemies, murderers, rapists or they could have been ordinary individuals who died suddenly from a strange illness or murder.
Anything outside the norm would have caused the community to fear that these people could have come back to life to harass their loved ones or others against whom they had a grudge.
The mouth was seen as a key part of the body for such a transformation.
‘It was viewed as the main portal for the soul to leave the body upon death. Sometimes, the soul could come back to the body and re-animate it or else an evil spirit could enter the body through the mouth and bring it back to life,’ Read said.”
The skeletons were dug up between 2005 and 2009 at Kilteasheen, near Loch Key in Ireland. Halloween come early.
Popular Stories
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 600 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 420 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 415 Comments
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 394 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 378 Comments
Faith
Arab-Muslim Character to Join DC Comics‘ ’Green Lantern’ Series Read More- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 420 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 415 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 394 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 151 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know 100 Comments- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 303 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 420 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (70)
Meyvn
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 8:58amSilly.
Report Post »CHICAGOTHUGBUCKET
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 8:04am8th Century Democrats will do anything to distract you from the economy!
Report Post »jcldwl
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 8:00am“even though the zombie threat is, as yet, unrealized.”
Report Post »Yeah zombie movies are fun but it sounds here like you believe it possible and it just hasn’t happened yet. If that is how this statement is intended then you may need to lay off the zombie movies for a while. BRAINS!!!!!
Katydidnt
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 6:25amWhy do they assume this is zombie precautions? It could be an ancient form of execution. It reveals a certain amount of anger at the individuals, if someone stuffed a stone so violently in someone’s ,mouth that they broke the jaw.
Report Post »The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 6:41amMaybe it was how the first Republicans dealt with the first Democrats.
Remember…History always repeats itself.
Report Post »qpwillie
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 7:25amThe_Almighty_Creestof,
Report Post »They didn’t have anything as evil as Democrats back then. Vampires, witches, demons, etc. was about as bad as it got in those days.
TomFerrari
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 7:54amOR, perhaps they ATE someone’s food, and that is how they were punished?
Report Post »OR, one of them pushed a stone in the other’s mouth to starve him to death, so, the guy with the stone (having LOTS of time before death), attacked the first guy and violently crammed a stone in HIS mouth.
OR, there was so much entropy – so much nothing-ness, that suddenly, magically, STONES came into existence, then, those stones evolved into corpses. LOL
.
.
TomFerrari
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 7:56amOR, maybe they were rabid, and were foaming at the mouth? So, “corks” were inserted to stop the disease?
Report Post »outsidethebox
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 4:11amThose ads and the next story pop-up are getting really annoying. I‘m going to find another site if The Blaze doesn’t fix this soon.
Report Post »The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 4:42amThat and losing posts because “you are not signed in” when you clearly are and can only fix it by signing out and then signing back in.
Beck needs to hire some people who know what they are doing and who listen to their audience…and not just those who can shove their noses up his tush the farthest.
Report Post »one years food ration like glenn says
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 7:56am@outsidethebox.. I complain EVERYTIME I am on the site ( I use ” have a tip? ) bottom right hand corner of the screen.. I’m on everyday and complain about the very things you are stating , nothing ever gets done.. I do it everyday because the squeaky wheel usually gets the oil , but not in this case.. Sorry to say though, you’re never going to find a news site that even compares to this one with truth so they pretty much have the upper hand.. Anyway…..
Report Post »travlman77
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 8:12amI have been here since day one, I love the site and I agree!
Report Post »Fix the sign in issue!
Lose thhe Roll Over ads or Lose followers I do not come here to be aggravated
loriann12
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 9:48amYou still lose your post, but you can access your profile, and then go back, and mysteriously you’re signed in again.
Report Post »RayofDarkSunshine
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 11:57amI don’t know if anyone else is using a tablet to view this site, but the new format sucks! Could we go back to the old format, please? My eyes aren’t as good as they used to be!
Report Post »Arshloch
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 4:10pmMost ‘it’ guys/gals are grads of Idioso U. with degrees of Moronicus Rex. Classmates of Sgt, Schultz – the “I no nothing” guy.
Report Post »db321
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 2:50amMy comment doesn’t relate to the story – just wanted to share – The place I go to vote is this historical building with many steps leading up to the entrance. On election day, I am going to bring a sound system and play the theme song to Rocky as I run up those steps and when I reach to top I am going to raise my arms and dance around as the music plays. Then I going in to vote – I will not cut in line, but if anyone tries to get in front of me, I promises I will tackle them. November 2012 – is like being a kid again and waiting on Christmas.
Report Post »luke9.54_56
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 6:24amour voting poll is also a huge array of stairs…it is two flights down from the parking lot, and in winter, there is thick ice there. then we have to turn around and climb back up the outdoor stairs to get back to our cars…absolutely age-discrimination
Check it out: Terraset Elementary Reston, Virginia http://www.fcps.edu/TerrasetES/
Report Post »Slowman101
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 2:47amThey may be dead, but I bet Obama has them registered to vote in the 2012 election!
Report Post »9111315
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 7:15amBoth in 3 different states.
Report Post »ZengaPA65
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 1:17pmahahah! amen
Report Post »Dr. Frank Lippenheimer
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 12:42amWhat can I say? I’m speechless.
Report Post »db321
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 2:39amPeople will believe anything – like say – Obama is a Christian.
Report Post »ZengaPA65
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 12:02amObviously it stopped those two from becoming zombies.
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 3:21amHey — if it works, then it works.
Report Post »TH30PH1LUS
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:19pmI saw zombies shuffling in a Day of Rage video somewhere else here…
They were chanting that they “are not people” or something.
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:16pmWho would have thought, that Centuries later-one woman’s act of revenge would have made international news! lol !!
She told them to keep those brothers to keep their lying mouths shut
Report Post »Susanna
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:48pmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SgW9yNaz9k
Report Post »quicker
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 6:37amBob Hope ,a great american.
Report Post »tankyjo
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:45pmAnyone check Rahmbo’s back yard?
Report Post »tankyjo
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:44pmNo surprises, DC is full of em.
Report Post »AltimaZeromus
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:32pmZombies nowadays live and breathe, though they still don’t think.
Report Post »encinom
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:43pmYeah, they are Glenn Beck fans and Tea-Party members.
Report Post »tomf
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:45pmNow a days they are called Demoncrats
Report Post »kindling
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:56pmIt is the progressives that have no mind or soul…..I think most Democrats are just sheep following the herd. Most have good hearts. Progressives on the other hand have no soul and are so narcissistic they could care less who they destroy on their way to the top of the pile. I don’t even think a silver bullet would stop them. Even in death most still continue to destroy. Just how long do you think the world will suffer for what Obama is doing right now? He is a zombie.
Report Post »Ramcharger
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:17pmYep – they found some bones like this in Chicago
Report Post »ScottIvlow
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:32pmOh yeahhhh! They were more than likely affliated with the mob (sorry) Chicage Syndicate!
Report Post »gralc
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:32pmThe Chicago zombies walk to polls to vote every November.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:36pmWe need to put a stone up Obama’s azz……………..
Report Post »desert patriot
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:40pmOne is living in the White House
Report Post »rdietz7
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:12pmVengeance of the Zombies! Reminds me of all those libs crawling around Wall Street today.
Report Post »Joseph28
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:12pmSo we can’t really figure out why these stones were shoved in their mouths mere centuries ago but man those scientists got it 100% correct with evolution I tell you.
ultimately its all just speculation.
Report Post »YepImaConservative
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:09pmActually, these were Barack Hussein Obama’s Irish ancestors (Look at those teeth). Smart Irish.. they knew even back then there was something up with his clan. But alas, one got away it seems and is still doing what he and his ancestors did best… sucking the life blood from others.
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 12:44amGOOD ANSWER BO’s Irish ancestors!!!
Report Post »unintendedconsequences47
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:02pm@AMERICA4EVER it’s worth a shot;)
Report Post »scuba13
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:00pmHey look, some registered Democratic voters from Chicago.
Report Post »Lone Ranger
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:52pmWow, people certainly were gullible and superstitious back then. Al Gore could have been king of the WORLD.
Report Post »AMERICA4EVER
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:51pmI wonder if this would stop liberals from spreading lies?
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:16pmI’m gonna need all of your personal information (including close relatives and friends – throw in co-workers) AttackWatch is watching!!!!!!!!!!!
Close those drapes and await further instructions!
Report Post »ilovestock
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:42pmsilly
Report Post »dealer@678
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:41pmBorn of a jackel was my first thought
Report Post »