Witch bottle
Category
Archaeological material
Date
c. 1600 - c. 1800
Materials
Glass, Water, Fat
Measurements
15 cm (Height)
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Corfe Castle, Dorset
NT 420359
Caption
When this bottle was discovered beneath an old parish boundary wall on the Purbeck estate in Dorset, its contents were – unusually – still sealed inside. Analysis showed it contained a nauseating mix of nicotine, animal fat and salt water. This smelly concoction is believed to be a ‘spell’ or potion, which may have been intended to protect livestock from disease or malicious spirits in the 17th or 18th century. Concealing items such as shoes, mummified cats or urine-filled bottles in hearths and walls might sound strange, but it was common practice in the 17th century, when it was widely believed to ward off evil spirits. Witches were often blamed for misfortune or ill health and witch bottles were intended to cause them pain and force them to reverse or remove their spells. Contemporary recipes recommended a combination of urine and sharp objects such as pins or nails, to be heated over a fire or buried. The effort required to create and conceal witch bottles is a testament to the extent of the popular belief in their power, and this example is a tangible link to the magical beliefs of the past.
Summary
Witch bottle discovered with original contents (a mixture of nicotine, animal fat and salt water).