Witch Bottle found dates to 1830
A witch bottle (a jar or bottle a witch buries along with various items for protective purposes) was discovered in the Lincolnshire village of Navanby. The jar and its contents date to about 1830.
The bottle contained bent pins, human hair and perhaps urine, the bottles were supposed to protect a household against evil spells and guarb against dark spirits or the evil eye.
Discovered by accident during building work, the artefact initially sat unrecognised in a cupboard. Jo Butler, the house’s owner, described what they found.
She said: “The builder was breaking up foundations with a pick and he came across the bottle.
“We saw it contained metal bits and this kind of strap but had never heard of witch bottles and put it under the stairs.”
It was only recognised when taken to a open evening held by the archaeology department of Lincolnshire County Council.
The “bottle”, in this case more likely to have been a glass inkwell or candlestick, had been damaged during discovery but still had its contents.
Mr Daubney said: “It seems a bit like voodoo, using human hair and pins but it’s not entirely clear why these items where used. Read the Full Story