Many elaborate rituals were used to identify a vampire. One method of finding a vampire's grave involved leading a virgin boy through a graveyard or church grounds on a virgin stallion—the horse would supposedly balk at the grave in question.[23] Generally a black horse was required, though in Albania it should be white.[29] Holes appearing in the earth over a grave were taken as a sign of vampirism.[30]
Corpses thought to be vampires were generally described as having a healthier appearance than expected, plump and showing little or no signs of decomposition.[31] In some cases, when suspected graves were opened, villagers even described the corpse as having fresh blood from a victim all over its face.[32] Evidence that a vampire was active in a given locality included death of cattle, sheep, relatives or neighbours. Folkloric vampires could also make their presence felt by engaging in minorpoltergeist-like activity, such as hurling stones on roofs or moving household objects,[33] and pressing on people in their sleep.[34]
