Archaeologist to discuss vampire belief in New England

TORRINGTON — The Torrington Historical Society is excited to host Dr. Nicholas Bellantoni, Emeritus Connecticut State Archaeologist, for a program about vampire folk belief in historic New England. The program will be held Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 6:30 p.m. in the Carriage House Gallery, 192 Main St. Admission is $5 for non-members and free for members.

In his program, “Vampire Folk Belief in Historic New England: The Archaeological Evidence”, Dr. Bellantoni will take us back to 1990 when a couple of very surprised young boys discovered two skulls at the site of a new gravel quarry in eastern Connecticut. Dr. Nick Bellantoni, Connecticut’s State Archaeologists, and others were called in to investigate what turned out to be a forgotten colonial family cemetery. One grave in particular caught their eye --someone had arranged the burial in an unusual way. This led to further investigation involving archaeology, forensics, genealogy, and folklore that produced the theory that the cause for the oddity in the burial was the belief that its occupant was a vampire. Vampire folklore was rampant in New England from 1780 to the 1890s, and a combination of disciplines helps archaeologists today discover more about this period in New England history. As it turns out, a real public health issue was to blame.

Dr. Nicholas F. Bellantoni serves as the emeritus state archaeologist with the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History and Archaeology Center at the University of Connecticut. He received his doctorate in anthropology from UConn in 1987 and was shortly thereafter appointed state archaeologist. His duties were many, but primarily included the preservation of archaeological sites in the state. He serves as an Adjunct Associate Research Professor in the Department of Anthropology at UConn. Dr. Bellantoni is a former State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism and also sat on the State Historic Preservation Council for over twelve years. He is currently President of the Archaeological Society of Connecticut and a former President of the National Association of State Archeologists. His research background includes zooarchaeology and the analysis of human skeletal remains. He has been excavating in North America for over 40 years.

For information about the Society, please visit torrington historicalsociety.org.