Grave of a young man on whom was performed an anti-vampire ritual was uncovered at archaeological excavations at the Perperikon site, reports News.bg.

The man was buried with an iron knife in his heart. His left leg, cut in three pieces was buried beside him.

According to the head of the excavations, Professor Nikolai Ovcharov told journalists this was another ritual against vampires, typically performed on people who died of unnatural causes of killed themselves.

Another grave was found near the grave of the young man. In it were buried a young woman and child, positioned like a Virgin Mary with child icon. According to Ovcharov, this type of burial was a prayer for protection against the plague.

Both graves were dated to the first half of XIII c. A.D.