27 Sep 2011

Body of suspected witch found in Italy

9:43 am on 27 September 2011

Archaeologists in central Italy have discovered the 800 year-old remains of a suspected witch on the site of a disused church.

The body was found, without a shroud or coffin, with seven nails driven into the woman's jawbone.

More nails were hammered into the ground around her, probably into her clothing.

The archaeologists suggest that might have been done in the belief that it would stop her rising from the dead.