JB-55 of Connecticut is one of ( if not the ) comfortably - studied " vampire " in the US . His body was found in an abandoned necropolis in Griswold , New London County , in 1990 , arranged in the shape of a skull and crossbones – a sign that his coevals believed he belong to the living dead . But until now , his identity has remained elusive .
On July 23 , researcherspresentedthe issue of a DNA analysis name the man formerly known as JB-55 at the National Museum of Health and Medicine , Maryland . This report card is the culmination ofa thirty - yr projectstarting in 1990 only potential because of the leaps and bounds made in DNA profiling over late years .
Researchers regard in the task were able to identify the man ’s last name ( Barber ) via a combining of Y - chromosomal desoxyribonucleic acid profiling and surname forecasting based on online genealogy data point . With some further dig , they discovered records for a Nathan Barber , a 12 - year - older male child who lived in the Griswold area – who just so happened to have a dad name John .
This check the " JB " initials tacked to the casket . They had found their man .
What else do we have sex about John Barber ? We jazz he was 55 when we died and we can guess that he was a firmly - working Fannie Merritt Farmer . archeologist point to a break collar bone that never healed amply and an arthritic knee that may have present him a hitch .
The locating of the bones powerfully hint that generation feared he was a vampire and had rearranged the skull and second joint bones into a Jolly Roger style over his chest to prevent it from give back to hurt the living . In realness , he had probably fall victim to tuberculosis ( TB ) , as evidenced by the lesions on his costa .
TB was epidemic in 19th - century New England , a situation made worse by nigh living quarter that provided mature conditions for such a highly contagious disease . unluckily , people were not yet well - acquainted withgerm theoryand alternatively assign the bedcover of disease to malicioussupernatural power .
consort toNew England folklore , the late deceased could get along back as vampires to debilitate their relatives of blood and make them sick . This impression was probably encourage by the symptoms of TB that can render its victims vampire - like – consider : wan skin , gaunt cheeks , weightiness loss , and recede gums that made the tooth longer ( like fangs ) . trigger-happy cough can also make lineage to seep from the martyr ’s oral fissure .
If a individual was suspected of being a vampire , their remains would be unearth and inspect for " signs of life " . The sign they take care for – bloating , long nail , fluids around the mouth , etcetera – were often normal parts of the decomposition summons . Of course , Barber ’s coeval did not know this .
The favored method acting of vampire disposal in 19th - hundred New England involved cauterise the heart . But from the layout of Barber ’s organic structure , the researchers distrust there was no centre to burn . Instead , his relatives destroyed his power by re - organizing his bones to resemble a skull and crossbones . Other method acting throughout chronicle includeplacing I. F. Stone in multitude ’s mouthsto hold back them uprise from the bushed , andritually stabbingthem after they ’ve died to make certain they ’re operate in the hereafter .
you’re able to take heed to the full presentationhere .
[ H / T : The Washington Post ]
