400-year-old Polish grave reveals feared revenant linked to a wealthy lineage

Archaeologists uncover a 400-year-old grave near Pień, Poland, of a 17–19-year-old girl buried with a sickle over her throat and a toe padlock to stop her rising, plus a copper-gold object in her mouth. Ancient DNA and isotopes suggest she was locally raised and likely from a wealthy family with possible Scandinavian maternal links; the site features other deviant burials reflecting fears of the dead, and researchers plan further DNA work to learn more about her death and beliefs surrounding revenants.