Polish Archaeologists Uncover 17th‑Century Woman’s Grave with Sickle and Lock

Archaeologists from the University of Mikołaj Kopernik in Toruń, led by Prof. Dariusz Poliński, discovered a 17th‑century burial in the village of Pień, Kuyavian‑Pomeranian Voivodeship, in 2022. The skeleton, later identified as a woman dubbed Zosia, was found with a triangular lock fastened to the big toe of her left foot and an iron sickle placed around her neck, the blade pointing toward her throat.

The double protective arrangement—unprecedented in archaeological literature—suggests the local community regarded Zosia as a potential source of misfortune, possibly linking her to disease or famine. Researchers performed radiocarbon dating, DNA sequencing, elemental composition analysis, and stable‑isotope studies, publishing their results in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. Additional findings include a greenish discoloration on the palate, nasal cavity, and first cervical vertebrae, the origin of which remains unknown.