Centuries-old 'Vampire' Skeletons Exhumed in Bulgaria: Tourism Gimmick?

Romania has long held claim to the vampire tourism title, owing to Bram Stoker's famous 1897 novel Dracula, set in the Romanian countryside of Transylvania. While a work of fiction, Dracula nonetheless had its roots in Romanian history and historical tales of vampires.

If Bulgaria has its way, it may be hoping its latest find helps draw some of those tourist dollars away from Romania, and into the museums, hotels, and restaurants of Bulgaria.

Unearthed last week in the Bulgarian Black Sea port town of Sozopol were two 700-year-old skeletons with iron rods thrust through their chests. This practice was performed on anyone considered to be a vampire or who had the potential to return to life as a vampire, and was still in use as late as the early 19^th century.

"This was a pagan belief widespread in the Bulgarian lands in the 12^th to 14^th centuries. People were very superstitious then," National History Museum director Bozhidar Dimitrov said.

"Throughout the country we have found over 100 such 'vampire' burials of mainly noblemen from the Middle Ages who were branded bloodsucking immortals."

Given the current popular culture craze with anything vampire related, it's not surprising that the discovery has already attracted global attention. Quick to capitalize on this discovery and attention, The Natural History Museum in Sofia will put one of these skeletons on display beginning June 16, with Dimitrov saying he expects a large turnout for the display.

Legends of vampires remain prevalent in many of the Balkan countries, and there have been reports that some people in Sozopol, where the two skeletons were discovered, have been having trouble sleeping at night since the discovery.

Of course there's nothing to indicate the skeletons were actually vampires, no doubt to the dismay of many. They were simply subjected to a pagan ritual to ensure they would not become one.

Still, for anyone interested in the history and legends of vampires, it's an intriguing discovery, and one that should prove to be a boon for the Bulgarian tourism industry.