In medieval Poland, how many deviant burials were identified as resulting from apotropaic practices?

The identification of a dozen or so deviant burials in medieval Poland resulting from apotropaic practices is significant because it highlights the distinct prevalence and the specific cultural context surrounding these practices. Apotropaic burial methods, intended to safeguard against malevolent forces or to prevent the dead from rising as the undead, reveal a society that had a strong belief in supernatural threats.

The relatively limited number, around a dozen, suggests that while such practices were recognized and perhaps utilized, they did not dominate the burial customs of the time. This number would typically indicate a more localized or less frequent occurrence of these rituals, as opposed to hundreds or numerous cases, which would imply a widespread or systemic approach to burial rites addressing fears of the undead.

Understanding the specific context and frequency of these deviant burials allows for a better grasp of medieval Polish beliefs and the social practices surrounding death and the afterlife. The choice highlights the careful balance between common burial traditions and the exceptional measures taken in response to fears of the undead in that historical period.