Before Hollywood: Centuries-old fear inspired zombie movies
Not just the reserve of modern-day horror movies, there is evidence of zombie fears dating back a thousand years.
The horror genre remains one of the biggest in Hollywood and there has been no shortages of releases for horror fans in recent years. Movies like Handling the Undead attempt to move the genre forward extending a long-running cinema trope.
Films like Shaun of the Dead, 28 Days Later and Train to Busan all offer different takes on the zombie genre, which may date back much further than some fans would have thought.
History reports that there is evidence of zombie preoccupation in medieval England, where villagers took extreme steps to ensure that corpses would not rise from the grave.
In the village of Wharram Percy, archaeologists have found evidence on bodies dating back to 1000 A.C., showing burn marks and cuts on the skulls and upper bodies. Researchers believed that the marks were not caused by canabalism, and that they were inflicted posthumously. But why?
Given that the skeletons appeared to have been local residents, those involved in the study concluded that those marks were an effort to prevent the dead from rising from their graves.
Simon Mays, skeletal biologist at Historic England, told The Guardian: “The idea that the Wharram Percy bones are the remains of corpses burnt and dismembered to stop them walking from their graves seems to fit the evidence best. If we are right, then this is the first good archaeological evidence we have for this practice.”
Mays continued: “It shows us a dark side of medieval beliefs and provides a graphic reminder of how different the medieval view of the world was from our own.”
Related stories
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
Complete your personal details to comment