The Eternal Rest of the York Sitch Grave

The York sitch grave is a notable archaeological site located in York, England. It was discovered in 2008 during excavations carried out by York Archaeological Trust. The grave is believed to date back to the Viking era, specifically around the 10th century. The sitch grave is a type of burial pit that was commonly used by the Vikings to bury their dead. It consists of a rectangular pit dug into the ground, with the body of the deceased placed inside along with personal belongings and offerings. The pit is then covered with stones, creating a mound-like structure.

The pit is then covered with stones, creating a mound-like structure. At the York sitch grave, archaeologists found the remains of a Viking woman, estimated to be in her 40s at the time of her death. The remains were remarkably well-preserved, allowing researchers to gain valuable insights into the lifestyle and health of the individual.

York sitch grave

A while ago someone who reads this blog asked me to post about an alleged witch's grave in York, Maine. What a great idea! I love old graveyards, and I love New England witches. So here's a post that brings those two great tastes together like a Reese's peanut butter cup of the uncanny.

When I was a kid my family went to York, Maine a few times for vacations. I remember going to the beach, and visiting the zoo there. When I was a kid I think it was called York Wild Animal Farm, but these days it's York's Wild Kingdom.

As far as I know, we did not visit the Old Burying Ground, which is located in charming and historic York Village. It's too bad, because as with most charming cemeteries around here it has a weird legend is attached to it. I probably would have enjoyed hearing it.

The legend is about the grave of Mary Nasson, who who passed away in 1774. Her gravestone is a little different than the others. It has a portrait of Mary on it, and is covered with a big stone slab.

I think the stone succeeded in keeping the animals away, but it hasn't kept Mary's ghost from coming up to the surface. According to Joseph Citro's Weird New England, her ghost has reportedly been seen pushing local children on swings and giving them wildflowers. Hmmm. For a witch's ghost she doesn't seem particularly menacing. Online I've found quite a few sites claiming that Mary Nasson only acquired her witchy reputation because she was an effective herbalist. Her neighbors didn't understand how her cures worked and therefore thought they were magic. Oh, and maybe she could perform exorcisms.

So, was Mary Nasson a good witch, or a bad witch, or just someone who has an unusual gravestone? Are any of these legends true?

I don't know if they are true, but they definitely are old. I thought they might just be recent urban folklore but found they date back to at least the 19th century. I found this passage in ‪1894's Ancient City of Gorgeana and Modern Town of York (Maine) from Its Earliest Settlement‬: ‪Also Its Beaches and Summer Resorts‬ by George Alexander Emery:

Near the southwest corner of the old burying-ground is a grave, with head and foot stones, between which and lying on the grave is a large flat rock, as large as the grave itself. The inscription reads thus: - "Mary Nasson, wife of Samuel Nasson, died August 28, 1774, aged 29 years." No one, at least in this town, seems to know anything about her origin, death or even of the singular looking grave. No other occupant of a grave bearing this cognomen can be found in this cemetery, and the name is unknown in the town. A great many surmises and conjectures have been advanced in regard to this matter, in order to arrive at the facts, if there be any, and to clear up the dark affair, but nothing definite has ever come out of the effort. The writer of this, when a youth, living in York, was given to understand that this stone was placed there to keep down a witch that was buried beneath it.

In short, no one knows the real, historically-documented truth about Mary Nasson. Although George Alexander Emery doesn't believe Mary Nasson was a witch, he adds fuel to the fire by providing yet another legend. According to this one, a disembodied evil spirit used to haunt some rooms in an old house near the cemetery. It was banished from the house, but now roams the cemetery's perimeter, waiting for Mary to arise from her grave and join it.

I don't like to debunk legends; I like to savor them, so I'll just close with a couple thoughts. First, anomalous gravestones often attract legends. Rightly or wrongly, people tend to think that strange graves must contain strange occupants.

Second, the idea is very old that special effort is required to restrain a restless spirit. For example, in old European vampire lore a stake to the heart literally nails a vampire into its grave. Closer to home, Eunice Cole, an accused witch of Hampton, New Hampshire, was supposedly staked through the heart after death and had a horseshoe placed on top of her. It's not unreasonable (in folk belief) to think that a big rock might keep a ghost from coming out of the grave.

One last note: I am now writing a bi-monthly column for Spare Change News called Bizarre Boston. If you live or work in Boston be sure to buy an issue and help the city's homeless community. You can see one of my columns (about a Boston smallpox epidemic) here.

Mary Nasson was the wife of Samuel Nasson. She had been a successful and respected herbalist in the community, and she was also skilled at performing exorcisms. Her portrait is said to be the carved portrait that adorns the top of her headstone.

Analysis of the bones revealed signs of arthritis and tooth decay, suggesting that the woman may have had a challenging life. In addition to the human remains, various artifacts were also found within the grave. These included a beautifully decorated bone comb, a small knife, and a Viking bead necklace. These objects were likely placed in the grave as offerings or symbols of the deceased's social status. The discovery of the York sitch grave has provided valuable information about Viking burial practices and the society of that era. It offers a glimpse into the lives of ordinary Viking individuals and their beliefs in the afterlife. The grave serves as a reminder of the rich history that lies beneath our modern cities and the importance of archaeological research in uncovering these hidden stories..

Reviews for "Secrets of the York Sitch Grave: Insights from Archaeologists"

1. Jennifer - 2/5: I was really excited to read "York sitch grave" after hearing all the hype, but I was ultimately disappointed. The plot was convoluted and hard to follow, with many unnecessary twists and turns. The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult to care about their fates. Additionally, the writing style was cumbersome and overly descriptive, making it hard to stay engaged. Overall, "York sitch grave" fell flat for me and I wouldn't recommend it.

2. Michael - 1/5: "York sitch grave" was a complete waste of my time. The story was predictable and filled with clichés, leaving no room for originality. The dialogue was awkward and forced, making it hard to believe in the characters' intentions and actions. The book was also filled with grammatical errors, which added to the overall poor quality of the writing. I couldn't wait to finish this book and I definitely won't be picking up anything else by this author.

3. Emily - 2/5: I had high hopes for "York sitch grave" based on the glowing reviews, but I found it to be underwhelming. The pacing was incredibly slow and it took way too long for the story to pick up. The characters were also unlikable and lacked development, making it hard to connect with them. The ending felt rushed and unsatisfying, leaving too many loose ends. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it if you're looking for an engaging thriller.

4. Robert - 2/5: "York sitch grave" had an interesting premise, but it failed to deliver on its potential. The story had many plot holes and inconsistencies that made it hard to suspend disbelief. The writing style was also dry and filled with unnecessary details, making it hard to stay engaged. The characters felt shallow and their motivations were unclear, making it difficult to become invested in their journeys. I was left feeling unsatisfied and wouldn't recommend this book to others.

The York Sitch Grave: An Enigmatic Burial Site