Yorkshire Vampires?
Could there have been vampires in Iron age Yorkshire?
It is certainly the case that Eastern Europeans would use sharp objects to pierce the bodies if suspected vampires or revenants. The piercing allowing gases to escape, making the bloated corpse deflate and look more ‘dead’. Which, obviously, led to the ideas in Vampire stories about a stake through the heart. The story here seems to suggest something similar in the UK during the Iron Age.
The Eastern European belief is that plagues and bad luck in an area were linked to the restless dead feeding. So, to end the bad luck they would dig up the last person buried (as the most likely candidate) and perform various rituals to lay them to rest – including using iron nails and even fence posts to impale them. Most of the time they would find a corpse that looked like it had gained weight and was showing signs of hair and nail growth*, which added to the evidence that they were still alive and feeding on the blood of the living. Piercing of any form would release the gases and the corpse would look more like you would expect it to. If the bad luck didn’t go away, they would go back and do more rituals that went up to cremating the body.
Is this case an example of the same thing? This is certainly a bizarre burial. The corpse was found pierced with 9 spears – some bone, others iron. There are theories. One being that it was because he did not die in battle – the postmortem injuries inflicted as a way to ensure a warrior’s death. Though this does not explain the head injury described in the article. Another theory is that it was a ritual killing similar to the bog burials, where the victim is knocked unconscious or killed with a blow to the head before being ritually murdered. However, the theory that is catching the imagination of most people is the vampire one – that there was some reason they feared his return as a revenant. Or even went back to perform the stabbing ritual after he was buried due to some bad luck or plague, the same as the Eastern European folklore. This, along with the sacrifice option, may explain why the spears were left in place – to ensure he did not get up.
We may never know the real reason why this bizarre ritual was performed but it does highlight some interesting parallels in folklore. Similar ideas appear in different cultures. Obviously, the conspiracy theory answer to this is ‘Vampires are real and many cultures encountered them’ but more likely this was because there was actually more travel and communication between cultures than used to be considered possible. Briton at this point may have been primitive but Rome (due to invade in another 250 years or so) was already a Republic and starting to form an Empire. Burial could in theory spread over Europe. It is, however, very likely too much of a stretch to link this practice with that of Eastern Europeans in the 1800s.
Instead, let us consider the coincidence of an iron age vampire being found in the same county as Whitby – the place where Bram Stoker had Dracula’s ship land on his journey from Transylvania.
*Due, as we now know, to the skin shrinking back from the hair follicles and nail bed rather than any actual growth.
Clinton Campaign Chair Talks UFOs/Area 51
Determined not to leave any untapped resources of voters out of their sights as we slog through insults and probable scandal till November as the most civilized country in the world picks its new leader, John Podesta, campaign chair for Hilary Clinton’s presidential run, has made recent statements that the American people deserve to know the truth about Area 51 and UFOs.
Podesta talked about declassifying documents relating to Area 51 in Nevada; an infamous site for stories about military testing, UFOs and alien bodies or hostages, on a recent interview with CNN.
British Believe in Ghosts More Then God
We previously reported on a study that involved both the United States and the U.K. that stated that half of those surveyed in both regions believed in ghosts and the paranormal.
Recently a similar analysis has arisen that focuses on British people that identify as part of the Christian religion and the results while not too shocking do show a change in the belief systems in the Western world.
The analysis was published on YouGov on March 26th and focused on YouGov profiles of twelve-thousand users who identify with the Christian religion and a control group of Thirty-nine-thousand British subjects to represent the overall population.
Results are rather interesting as there seems to be in the data a definite push away from traditional religion as well as showing a sample of how the British feel about ghosts and other paranormal activity, in relation to one of the largest Western faiths.
Filmmaker Seeks Funds For Bigfoot Film
Christopher Garetano, award winning film maker and the man behind the documentary Montauk Chronicles, is seeking crowd sourced funds for another project, with will delve into the mystery of the creature known as Bigfoot.
The film, which went into production in October of 2015 and is reported to be at least twenty-five percent complete, will feature accounts of encounters with Bigfoot ranging from former United States President Teddy Roosevelt‘s account of a Bigfoot sighting from his 1893 book The Wilderness Hunter and the infamous ‘Patterson Film.’
You Have Till August 24th to Live According to ‘Satan’ (Updated/Debunked?)
*Update at bottom of post, the pic used has been debunked, which does not bode well for this whole story, plus honestly from the get go it has not been published by any other ‘major’ source online.*
What image pops up in your head when you think of Satan, the lord of darkness, master of fear and deception?
Horns, red skin, tail and a goatee?
What about what looks like the illegitimate love child of Marilyn Manson and Vampira with too much eye make up?
According to one Ashton Black of Tampa, Florida, he is now Satan and we all have till August, 24th, 2015 to accept him as our master or we all die.
All because he encountered the man himself when he walked into a pay day loan store.
You can’t make stuff like this up, read on if you want to live…
US Military ‘Busts’ Wayward Area 51 Tourbus
Area 51 has become a legend in UFO lore as well as US military history.
A site developed for secluded military aircraft testing, rumors of aliens and UFOs have made this a hot spot for believers and curiosity seekers since the base was formally revealed to the public in 1989.
Armed ‘Camo Dudes’ watch the approach from above the dusty road that leads to the base, civilians are not allowed past a certain point on the roadway and deadly force is authorized if you disobey the posted signs and try to venture closer to Area 51.
The infamy and the rumors made this a good destination for Adventure Photo Tours, which takes small groups out to the roadway, stopping before they cross onto the forbidden section of the road.
In late may of this year, tour bus driver Denis Ryan made a mistake and went past the posted signs and wound up in a bit of hot water.
CIA Admits UFO Hoax-Or Did They?
Ahhh, the CIA.
Formed to replace the OSS after World War Two ended in 1947, these are the shady guys who you can blame for everything from the JFK assassination to any secretive operations in the United States or abroad.
They are the guys that rule the suspense and thriller movie genre.
Being a 21st century kind of agency, they recently found themselves with a Twitter account.
And while they have not released the location of Jimmy Hoffa or told anyone that Ronald Reagan was really a robot for most of his terms, they have tweeted about being responsible for the wave of UFO sightings in Norway in the 1950’s.
Or did they?
An interview with Johnathon Ferguson
This is reblogged from my Lurking Musings blog where it featured as part of my Vampire Month special event. On Thursday this week, Johnathon will be talking in more detail about the Vampire Killing kit that the museum has in its collection.
Today we have an interview with Jonathan Ferguson, Curator of Firearms at the Royal Armouries in Leeds. He recently gave a talk entitled ‘How to kill a Vampire’ which I was lucky enough to attend and it was this talk which led me to approach him about a slot in Vampire month.
Paranormal Creatures: Jersey Devil
For millennium, people across the globe have been interacting with forces that can’t be explained. Things science has yet to fully acknowledge. Creatures that are not just part of our present, but our past. You will never read their tales in an academic history book.
However, they have always been part of our cultures. This is what I call Paranormal History.
It was a dark and stormy night in 1735 when Mrs. Janet Leeds gave birth to her thirteenth child. Upon finding out she was pregnant she stated that this child would be the devil. Despite her curse, she gave birth to a healthy and normal looking baby boy.
Suddenly the innocent appearing child transformed into a beast with the head of a goat, wings of a bat, hooves for feet, and a forked tail. With a growl and a scream, it murdered the midwife that birthed it before flying out the chimney and into the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. This is a popular version of the legendary Jersey Devil, a creature that is said to have been stalking the state of New Jersey for the last two and a half centuries.
Paranormal Creatures: Sasquatch
For millennium, people across the globe have been interacting with forces that can’t be explained. Things science has yet to fully acknowledge. Creatures that are not just part of our present, but our past. You will never read their tales in an academic history book. However, they have always been part of our cultures.
This is what I call Paranormal History.
You are walking through the forest, heading to your favorite hunting spot when you start to get the uneasy feeling of being watched. You think you are being paranoid so you try to shake the feeling, but there is a movement from the brush. You grab a nearby rock and throw it in an attempt to flush the animal out. Less than a second later an even bigger rock strikes the tree behind your head.
Full of terror, you take aim with you rifle, demanding for whatever it is to show itself. Suddenly, a blood curdling scream erupts from the brush, causing you to drop your rifle as you run for your life. This isn’t a scene from the newest SyFy original movie, this is what was recounted to me by a Kentucky resident in 2009.
Loch Ness Monster secret finally uncovered?
The infamous ‘Surgeon’s Photograph’
The Loch Ness Monster has been one of the most enduring myths of the last two centuries. In fact, the legend may be even older if you take into account the supposed sighting by St Columba in the 6th Century Ever since the first modern age sighting of a ‘log like’ object by D MacKenzie in 1871 speculations about what might be lurking in the depths of the 263 thousand million cubic feet of water that constitutes the largest body of water in the whole of the United Kingdom. Attempts to discover the truth of the matter have even extended so far as to an ambitious one million pound (~$1,524,674) project to scan the entire Loch using sonar called Operation Deepscan.
Bigfoot Hunter: “Not Growing Pot”
It seems that at times, marijuana and the paranormal go hand in hand. Although most people might think I’m saying that those seeking Bigfoot or ghosts are smoking some really choice pot, Marijuana has blown it’s smoke in the direction of the paranormal before.
Previously we reported on a pot stealing ghost but now comes a report of a Bigfoot hunter being accused of being a pot grower while searching for the beast just outside Toronto, Canada.
Death By Posting Forums
This is a formal invitation to come join us at our forums, Death By Posting.
Here you will find discussions and news items on everything from Ghosts, UFOs, Bigfoot, Weird News and other strange and paranormal related topics.
Currently I am looking to have a membership drive and would love it if you would stop by, register and come chat with us.
Beer Co. Offers One Million Dollars For Bigfoot
Beer has always gone hand in hand with some of our most beloved pastimes and indulgences, such as billiards and darts, baseball, a nice relaxing trip to the bar or pub after a busy day or pizza.
However, if the makers of Olympia Beer are correct, there maybe another thing that goes along perfectly with beer.
Bigfoot.
Or more precisely, catching Bigfoot and walking off with a cool one million dollar prize…
New “Nessie” Pic Taken
George Edwards, A Scottish boat captain as well as a Loch Ness Monster hunter, recently captured an extraordinary picture while searching for the sunken remains of a steam engine near the infamous Loch.
Edwards, who has hunted the beast for twenty six years says the object seemed to be heading towards Urquhart Castle. Edwards claims to have viewed the creature for around five minutes.
UFO sightings by International Space Station crews
They say that in space no one can hear you scream… Well, the producers and marketing teams of the Alien franchise of Sci Fi films said that and it became one of the more well known movie taglines of all time. You may not be able to scream in space but it is certainly the most likely place where you might spot aliens.
‘Exploding UFO’ De-Bunked
On December, 20th, 2012, amateur astronomer Elijah Prychodzko was gazing into the sky in Sacramento, California when a sudden flash of light seen through his telescope caught his attention.
Prychodzko placed his smartphone’s camera lens against the eyepiece of his telescope and recorded what seemed to be a disc exploding in the sky.
The story made some headlines in the local news and online earlier this year but despite the amazing video evidence, this UFO may be a little more down to Earth…
Woman Beats Grandma to Death Due To Possession
Rachel Armstrong
Recently we published an article on the dark side of exorcism. However, this story takes the pitfalls of possession cases in a slightly different direction.
Rachel Armstrong, a thirty-seven year old nurse, beat her ninety-two year old grandmother Angela Armstrong right before bed, due to Angela being possessed by the devil.
The Dark Side of Exorcism
Editor’s Note: This article deals with sensitive subject matter to certain parties and individuals.
Although we respect all opinions, we would also hope you respect us by not being rude to anyone in the comments.
We also hope you respect the author of this piece, who has every right to his opinions as well.- Thomas Spychalski
The dark side of exorcism? How can it get any darker?
The topics of possession exorcism are inherently deeply complex, controversial, and interpreted by hundreds of cultures and religions at different and varying levels of belief and understanding. Volumes have been written about the subject throughout the centuries, from the religious to the historic, from the scientific to the sensational. The realm of possession and exorcism has been seriously approached and studied by theologians, psychiatrists, scientists, historians and scholars, writers and filmmakers, all with different interpretations about the phenomena, its validity, and meanings. What, if any, are the conclusions?
31 Days: Vampires
Of all the supernatural creatures that are known about, I reckon that Vampires are quite possibly the most well known.
The literary creation of John William Polidari (one time physician to Lord Byron) and popularized by Bram Stoker, the Vampire has blazed a trail through books, movies, cartoons, comics and theater productions for much of the 20th century and is still going strong in the 21st. YA fiction in particular has adopted the vampire with gusto, turning them from blood sucking horrors that lurk in the night to sexy, angst ridden anti heroes. Needless to say, everyone knows all about Vampires.
31 Days: Witches (A Tale of a Northen Witch Finder)
Greetings and welcome to the month of October!
This month we hope to present articles on all the little things that make Halloween so great with our “31 Days of Halloween”!
We were fortunate enough to have some help in that regard, so we start out with a article by Doctor Jo Bath about one of the most iconic Halloween symbols…witches!
Man Blames Attempted Rape on Devil
You could also say that at times people have used the unexplained as an alibi, such as when Ronald DeFeo of Amityville fame claimed he was given the murder weapon by a dark mysterious figure and heard voices or our recent report on a wife beater who tried to blame er bruises on a ghostly visitor, excusing him of doing any wrong.
That certainly seems the case with another recent report where a Florida teen blamed his attempted rape charge on the Devil himself.
Man Killed while Attempting Bigfoot Hoax in Montana
In case you were thinking that pulling a hoax on the general public is pretty much risk free, you might want to hear the story of Randy Lee Tenley of Montana, who died while attempting a Bigfoot hoax.
Monolith On Mars?
When I say “monolith” you may think of the monoliths that featured in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
In that ground breaking film, the monoliths were part of an experiment by an alien race to see how far a race could evolve after the aliens introduced the idea of tools to our ape like ancestors and brought a giant leap forward into the evolution of life on the planet Earth.
There was a monolith buried on the moon in the film and when it was discovered four million years after it was placed there, it contacted the aliens that built it to let them know that the Humans had gone from apes using bone derived weapons used to hunt to mastering space exploration.
Now scientists from the University of Arizona have found what appears to be a similar looking object on the surface of the planet Mars.
Is this a photographic illusion or something that proves life may imitate fiction?
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D.A Lascelles
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Philip Bates
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Thomas Spychalski
