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novapsycheArtefact recalls witches' shadow
A chilling reminder of our superstitious past has been unearthed from a rural farmhouse.
The "witch bottle" was discovered buried in old foundations in the Lincolnshire village of Navenby.
Containing bent pins, human hair and perhaps urine, the bottles were supposed to protect a household against evil spells.
Dated to about 1830, it is evidence the fear of dark forces persisted far longer than previously thought.
[...] Mr Daubney [the Finds Liaison Officer for the archaeology department of Lincolnshire County Council] said: "It seems a bit like voodoo, using human hair and pins but it's not entirely clear why these items where used.
"One theory is that the pins were put in urine so when the witch went to the toilet, it felt like they were passing the sharp metal.
"What the bottles were intended to do was bounce back spells on the sender.
"Even if you did not know who the witch was, you would make one of these and sit back to see who died, then that person was the witch."
A chilling reminder of our superstitious past has been unearthed from a rural farmhouse.
The "witch bottle" was discovered buried in old foundations in the Lincolnshire village of Navenby.
Containing bent pins, human hair and perhaps urine, the bottles were supposed to protect a household against evil spells.
Dated to about 1830, it is evidence the fear of dark forces persisted far longer than previously thought.
[...] Mr Daubney [the Finds Liaison Officer for the archaeology department of Lincolnshire County Council] said: "It seems a bit like voodoo, using human hair and pins but it's not entirely clear why these items where used.
"One theory is that the pins were put in urine so when the witch went to the toilet, it felt like they were passing the sharp metal.
"What the bottles were intended to do was bounce back spells on the sender.
"Even if you did not know who the witch was, you would make one of these and sit back to see who died, then that person was the witch."