An interesting news item popping up in my feed reader is a story about the contents of an intact and still-corked “Witch Bottle” from the 17th century, found in southeast London. After five years of examinations, CT scans, X-rays, and DNA analysis, British Archeology and retired chemistry lecturer Dr Massey are ready to share their findings.

A CT scan of the Witch Bottle

“CT scans and chemical analysis, along with gas chromatography conducted by Richard Cole of the Leicester Royal Infirmary, reveal the contents of the bottle to include human urine, brimstone, 12 iron nails, eight brass pins, hair, possible navel fluff, a piece of heart-shaped leather pierced by a bent nail, and 10 fingernail clippings.”

While several old Witch Bottles have been found in the past, and recipes for how to make a Witch Bottle exist from folklore and old records, this is the first time an intact specimen has been available for study. According to Massey the bottle illustrates the extent that people during that time were wary of malicious magic.

“Massey believes witch bottles “emphasize just how frightened people were of the ‘black arts’ — the early settlers even took their superstitions to the New World with them as excavated witch bottles demonstrate.” The general time period of the bottle coincides with the Salem Witch Trials, which happened in late 1600’s America. Archaeologist Mike Pitts, the editor of British Archaeology, told Discovery News, ‘The discovery of something so apparently bizarre, indicating a clear belief in witchcraft and forces that have nothing at all to do with conventional, approved religion, remind us that early modern England did not belong to the same world we now inhabit.’”

One wonders how long before the exact receipe discovered here finds its way into a Pagan-written book. Oh, and in case you were wondering, the cool Pagan-looking bottle decoration is actually the face of Catholic Cardinal Roberto Bellarmino. If you want to know more about Witch Bottles, including how to make your own, check out this article by Faerie K. from The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum.

Tags: Archaeology, Magic, UK, Witch Bottle, Witchcraft