Real Vampires Dug Up in Bulgaria?

The skeletal remains of two people, apparently believed to be vampires and buried in the Middle Ages, were unearthed in Bulgaria, and it was discovered that iron spikes impaled them through the chest, pinning them to the casket. It turns out, that's not so unusual.

The so-far unidentified remains were dug up from some ancient graves found near the Black Sea town of Sozopol, a legendary hotspot of vampirism for centuries. Archaeologists explain that such interments continued until well into the early 20th century.

The practice of impaling stakes in the hearts of people who indulged in evil deeds during their lifetime was commonplace in an area of the world more than literally spooked by a fear of the dead coming back to life and continuing their reign of terror.

So far, dozens of such skeletal remains have been found dating back hundreds of years.

Such were the powerful myths of vampires and, to the people of Bulgaria, it was no urban legend.

From such practices the details of vampirism grew until the present incarnations in books and movies like Twilight and TV shows like True Blood.

Of course, even over the last few decades, the rules have changed.

Would-be Draculas can now withstand sunlight, have no mortal fear of crosses, and can exist on animal blood, even if it leaves them a little famished.

But this one part of the legend, which turns out to be true, is a little mixed up. Doesn't the antidote call for a wooden stake through the heart, rather than an iron spike?

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Real Vampires Dug Up in Bulgaria?