Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Fall 2005

Abstract

The discovery of an 18th century "witch bottle" during controlled excavations at a colonial site in Essington, Pennsylvania in 1976 provided the first archaeological evidence for the use of these magical charms in the New World. Since that time, the author has identified five additional specimens in the northeastern United States. The geographic distribution of these artifacts reflects a widespread belief in magic in the northeastern English colonies. One recovered Pennsylvania witch bottle suggests that the use of magical charms lingered into the early 19th century.

Publication Title

Pennsylvania Archaeologist: Bulletin of the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology, Inc.

Publisher

Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology, Inc.

Volume

75

Issue

2

First Page

12

Last Page

23

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