The Tangible Occult: Archaeological Evidence

Archaeological evidence provides physical proof that magical practices, particularly those involving protection and cursing, have been part of human history for thousands of years. These artifacts allow historians to move beyond folklore and document the actual implementation of magic across various cultures. Witch Bottles Witch bottles are considered key archaeological artifacts documenting the history of witchcraft. These vessels, typically made of clay or glass, are identified by their specific contents, which often include pins, needles, nails, broken glass, and human personal effects like hair or urine. *The Holywell Witch Bottle:* Discovered in London, this bottle dates to the late 17th or early 18th century and contained pins and nails. *The Essington Witch Bottle:* Found in 1976 on Tinicum Island, USA, this mid-18th-century bottle was buried upside down beneath a governor's home. *Watford Inn Discovery:* A bottle containing fish hooks, teeth, and liquid was found in a chimney in Watford, England, at an inn once inhabited by Angeline Tubbs, the "Witch of Saratoga". While the bottle dates to the 1800s and post-dates Tubbs, it proves magic was practiced in that form for centuries. Curse Tablets (*Defixiones*) Approximately *1,600 curse tablets* have been discovered, primarily from the Greco-Roman world. These are typically thin sheets of lead inscribed with tiny text, which were then rolled, folded, or pierced with nails. *Bath Curse Tablets:* Found in Bath, England, all but one of the 130 tablets discovered there concerned the restitution of stolen goods. *Uley Temple Finds:* Over 80 tablets were found near a temple to Mercury at West Hill, Uley, making south-western Britain a major center for these artifacts. *Selinus, Sicily:* The first set of curse tablets discovered came from Selinus, mostly dating to the early 5th century BCE. *London Finds:* A specific tablet found in London records a detailed curse against a woman named Tretia Maria, targeting her mind, memory, and internal organs. Apotropaic Marks ("Witch Marks") Apotropaic marks are patterns scratched into the walls, beams, and thresholds of buildings—primarily near entrances like doors, windows, and chimneys—to repel evil spirits or witches. *British Sites:* Marks have been found at *Knole House* (scratched into oak beams in 1609), **Shakespeare’s Birthplace**, and the **Tower of London**. *Gainsborough Old Hall:* This site contains 20 marks, the highest concentration of any English Heritage property. *Creswell Crags:* In 2019, a collection of over 100 marks, previously mistaken for graffiti, was discovered in a cave network in Nottinghamshire. Objects Buried in Buildings Archaeologists have frequently uncovered objects concealed within the structure of early modern European homes to ward off witchcraft: *Concealed Items:* These include *dried cats**, **horse skulls**, and **old shoes* buried near lintels or within walls. *Taper Burn Marks:* Scorched marks on the thresholds of early modern buildings are also interpreted as ritual protection. Ancient Egyptian Artifacts Magical objects were widely used in household rituals in Ancient Egypt to communicate with deities. *Apotropaic Wands:* Ivory wands, often called "birth tusks," were popular during the Middle Kingdom (c. 2040–1782 BCE). They were adorned with processions of solar deities and used to protect mothers and infants. *Cowroid Amulets:* These amulets, shaped like cowrie shells, were typically worn in a woman’s girdle for protection during pregnancy. Ritual Deposits in Water Dredging projects, such as those under *London Bridge* in the Thames, have revealed large numbers of bent and broken knives, swords, daggers, and coins. These items date from Celtic times through the modern period and are believed to have been deposited to avoid bad luck before voyages.