The discovery of the graves of suspected vampires in Bulgaria may turn into a tourism gold mine, according to local news reports.
During excavations of a monastery in the city of Sozopol, Bulgaria's National Museum of History says it unearthed two skeletons that showed the deceased person had been stabbed through the heart with an iron rod.
"This was (the) customary way (in) Bulgarian medieval tradition to deal with people which were presumed to be vampires," the museum's website says.
People at the time of the burial of the skeletons, about 700 years ago, thought that stabbing the corpses multiple times with an iron rod through the heart would prevent the dead from rising and attacking the living, museum director Bozhidar Dimitrov said, according to a report from the Sofia News Agency.
Dimitrov said more than 100 such "vampire" burials have been discovered in Bulgaria over the years, according to the Sofia News Agency.
But headlines of the latest find have piqued interest in the U.S., Europe and Asia, the report said, and tour operators are fielding inquiries about what it called "vampire vacations."
Already, people were lining up at the excavation site at the monastery of St. Nicolas the Wonderworker, the Sofia News Agency reported.
Big lines for vampires could pump even more blood into the country's expanding tourism industry. Bulgaria led the European Union last year in the increase in hotel occupancy by foreigners, with numbers up almost 20% over the previous year.
No stats on how many of those folks slept with the lights on, however.
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"People at the time of the burial of the skeletons, about 700 years ago, thought that stabbing the corpses multiple times with an iron rod through the heart would prevent the dead from rising and attacking the living"
And they were absolutely right about that. Never dismiss the knowledge of the Old Ones.
yes, but do the bones shimmer at night?
Nicolas the wonderworker? Makes you wonder!
The Republicans killed these "vampires". They did then what they do now; they demonize anything they don't like or understand to justify going after it and killing it.
and the Democrats have Elvis in hiding , you idiot....
Why do you assume it was a stake driven into him. He could have gotten into a horse riding accident, was the loser in a Joust tournament or even might have committed suicide by throwing himself onto the iron rod. Do your research before you post an article because you look ignorant.
@ASP: The author is not making assumptions, just reporting on the Museums statements. Your speculations make you look like an idiot. How does one commit suicide by stabbing oneself in the heart "multiple times?" You really think there were more than 100 incidents of "horse accidents" involving iron rods through the heart? And jousting lances were never made of iron. Do something thinking before you post "because it makes YOU look ignorant."
actually you sound stupid for even posted such a ridiculous comment. If you don't like the reporting on CNN why the heck do you come to the site and read the articles. TROLL
you mean like the part about how they included the historically researched bit about it being customary to do this to those presumed to be vampires? As a history professor, I can assure you this is true. Or about the part that they have found 100 such people over the years with the exact same injury? Too many to all have suffered the same freak accident. You're the one who seems ignorant here.
LOL.....your post sounds ignorant......
Seriously.....iron lances? Seriously? LMAO!!!!!
Hahahaha! don't go for a career in Criminology!
Derp.
I think you are the idiot. The writer didn't come to that conclusion the archeologists did.
Really, horse riding accident is the best you come up with, really? really?
I'm betting that you were on the OJ Simpson jury, yes?
an iron rod in jousting? i suggest YOU do your research instead of spouting foolishness. you're only making yourself look stupid.
CNN be trolling for hits
ASP wrote "Do your research before you post an article because you look ignorant." Ah, so glad to see that you're practicing your irony skills.
Well over 100 suspected "vampire burials" were discovered in Bulgaria...so why would you not think that? You sir are a moron.
There were cases in medieval times during various plagues of people about to be buried or buried alive who dug woke up/dug themselves out... this accounts for some of the myth of vampires and undead. Also it was probably perpetuated by family members as part to keep their inheritance or a play by the government to steal inheritances/property.
Desperate to develop a tourist market are we?
Isn't a new season of True Blood coming up?!?!?!?!?!?!? HELLO!
And I'm sure that Bulgarian Historians really give a hoot about 'True Blood' (smh) .
The world is Vampire......
....so say the smashing pumpkins....
sent todayyyyy. secret destroyers!
sent to drain* lol my bad
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Yet more evidence that eastern Europeans are not terribly intelligent people.
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And they still run the world.. funny how that works.
No such thing as vampires, at least in an supernatural sense.
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Sometimes, I remove all my clothing and dance in front of the mirror while I yell, "WIGGLE, WIGGLE, WIGGLE, WIGGLE, WIGGLE!"
Oh, and vampires are not real.
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I'd only visit if they were REAL vampires on display.
Willard "Mitt" Romney is a vampire because he sucks!
How juvenile you must be an Obama supporter big time.
I know vampire BATS.