In the late 18th century, a man was buried in Griswold, Connecticut, USA, whose femur bones
After conducting DNA analysis, forensic experts from the companyParabon NanoLabs concluded that the man (codenamed JB55) was about 55 years old when he died and suffered from tuberculosis. Using 3D facial reconstruction software, the medical examiner determined that JB55 had fair skin, brown eyes, brown or black hair, and a few freckles.
Crossed thigh bones. Image credit: MDPI, Basel, Switzerland
Based on the placement of the legs and skullin the grave, researchers suspect that at some point the body was dug up and reburied. Such rituals are often associated with the fact that the person was considered a vampire during life. Historically, people who died from tuberculosis were suspected of vampirism.
JB55's remains were found with his thigh bones removed and crossed over his chest, in a move that superstitious people hoped would prevent him from walking around and attacking the living.
Archaeologists have discovered the remains of the allegedvampire in 1990. In 2019, forensic scientists extracted his DNA and ran it through an online genealogy database. It turned out that JB55 was actually a man named John Barber, a poor farmer who died of tuberculosis. JB55's nickname was based on the epitaph written on his coffin in copper nails, which indicated his initials and age at death.
This week, the scientists will present the results of the study, including facial reconstruction, at the International Symposium on Human Identification.
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