Vampires? Historian looks at idea:

Unlike the ridiculous stories about werewolves and other creatures from “B Movies” this story is real.

Archaeologists in Bulgaria announced they found two more medieval skeletons pieced through their chests with iron rods.  

Local historians state the discovery illustrates a common pagan practice common in some villages until a century ago. 

It turns out that similar archaeological sites have also been found in the Balkans and the latest specimens bring the total number, of what has been called the “vampire skeletons” to around 100 known burials. 

So why were their hearts really pierced with the steel bars? According to the local historians familiar with the practice, it seems that anyone considered evil or bad had their hearts stabbed after their death because it was common to fear they might otherwise return from the dead to feast on people’s blood. 

Historian Bozhidar Dimitrov, head of the National History Museum in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, says it was believed the rod would effectively pin the dead into their graves and prevent them from leaving at midnight to terrorize people living in the villages.  

These skeleton remains are important because the mythology associated with this practice inspired Bram Stoker’s to write his gothic novel, “Dracula,” first published in 1897.