In the UK, a team of archaeologists and historians from the MOLA project and the University of Hertfordshire urged fellow citizens to "hand over" to them the so-called "witch's bottles" of the 17th century, found in old houses during repairs or renovations.
An unusual announcement appeared on the website of the University of Hertfordshire. "Witch's Bottles" is the general name for ceramic and glass vessels.
It is believed that in the 17th century they were widely used as items for ritual protection from evil spells, and also served as containers for "finished medicine" against witchcraft. Pins and nails were usually used as such a potion, sometimes nail clippings.
Until now, "witch's bottles" have been found in secluded corners. So, they were hidden in the hearths or underground of historical buildings, sometimes buried in churchyards, as well as in ditches and on the banks of rivers.
The researchers explained that they started a massive three-year project to study such subjects. In their opinion, local residents may well find "witch bottles" in their homes.
Scientists fear that the find may be overlooked, and the artifacts will end up in a landfill. Therefore, local residents were encouraged to hand over the bottles to historians, which will help to better study this phenomenon.
Denis Peredelsky
