German archaeologists have accidentally discovered an area they refer to as the “zombie grave” while conducting surveys in preparation for the expansion of the electrical grid.
According to Heritage Daily, “zombie grave”, constructed 4,200 years ago during the Bronze Age, contains the remains of a man who was approximately 40-60 years old at the time of death.
The discovery was made by the Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments and Archaeology of Saxony-Anhalt (Germany), which was tasked with examining a 150-kilometer stretch of land where the new electrical grid is expected to pass through the region.
This area likely contains numerous archaeological artifacts, having been inhabited by humans throughout various periods.
An archaeologist excavating the “zombie grave” in Germany – (Photo: Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments and Archaeology of Saxony-Anhalt).
Researchers call it a “zombie grave” due to the unusual burial method used.
A large stone was placed over the upper body of the man, which, according to researchers, may have been intended to prevent him from rising as a zombie.
Project director Susanne Friederich stated that since the Stone Age, the residents of this area have tended to fear those who could rise from their graves.
The image of a corpse rising from the dead, walking around, has been depicted in many different cultures, including ancient Celtic and Norse mythology, as well as folklore across Europe.
These depictions closely resemble zombies as portrayed in today’s films.
Thus, during the Middle Ages, individuals considered to be “zombies” were often victims of suicide, witches, corpses possessed by evil spirits, or victims attacked by vampires.
In the case of this grave, the burial style is associated with the Bell Beaker culture, a Bronze Age people that emerged around 2800 BC and spread throughout most of Western Europe and parts of the coastal regions in Northwest Africa.
