DNA Analysis Unveils the Visage of an 18th-Century Man Believed to be a “Vampire” and Uncovers Peculiar Burial Rite
Commonly Practiced: Crossing the Legs of Suspected Vampires in Burials to Prevent Their Resurrection
In 1990, children in Griswold, Connecticut stumbled upon skulls near a gravel pit. Subsequent excavations revealed 27 graves, including that of an unidentified middle-aged man whose coffin bore the inscription ‘JB55’.
The unconventional arrangement of the remains led archaeologists to conclude that the man was regarded as a vampire by his contemporaries. His thigh and leg bones were deliberately placed in a crossed position beneath the skull to ensure he would not rise from the dead. Although a DNA sample was extracted from the unidentified man’s femur, the technology at that time was insufficient to identify his identity.
In addition to this peculiar burial method, garlic, bibles, crucifixes, rosaries, holy water, and mirrors have all been utilized as means to ward off or identify vampires.
According to a 2019 study published in the MDPI journal, researchers at the US National Museum of Medicine and Health (NMHM) managed to trace the identity of the previously unknown man known as JB55. Based on the letters engraved on the coffin and the age indicated, the man was identified as John Barber. Bone fragments suggest that he was a middle-aged laborer who likely suffered from tuberculosis, indicated by the lesions on his ribs.
Tuberculosis, also known as consumption, manifested symptoms such as a bloody cough, jaundice, and red, swollen eyes, and was often fatal due to the lack of antibiotics at the time. Despite tuberculosis being spread through droplet infection, people in the early 19th century were unaware of bacteria and pathogens, and instead believed that those who died from the disease would return from the grave as vampires to infect the surviving members of the community.
According to a report from Live Science, researchers from Parabon NanoLabs in Virginia presented the facial reconstruction of Barber and conducted DNA analysis on the remains of the ‘vampire’ at the International Symposium on Human Identification (ISHI) in Washington, D.C., held between October 31 and November 3.
Facial Reconstruction and Skull of John Barber Revealed. Photo: Parabon Nanolabs/Virginia Commonwealth University
The findings confirmed that John Barber, known by the code name JB55, indeed suffered from tuberculosis and passed away at the age of 55. The complexion of the Connecticut man was fair, characterized by freckles on his face. His hair was either brown or black, while his eyes were brown, likely hazel in color.
Writteп by Tamás Varga
With a background in sociology and an English major, my expertise lies in the realms of civil society and human rights. Over the course of my career, I have dedicated myself to these areas, striving to promote and advocate for social justice. Additionally, I have been actively blogging about various topics such as travel, nature, and science for more than two decades. Through my writing, I aim to share valuable insights and engage readers in meaningful discussions.
