This volume investigates the physical evidence for magic in medieval and modern Britain, including ritual mark, concealed objects, amulets, and magical equipment. The contributors are the current experts in each area of the subject, and show between them how ample the evidence is and how important it is for an understanding of history.

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Reviews

“This is a fascinating, educational, elegantly written, and well-argued collection which pushes the boundaries of mainstream historical and archaeological research, shining a light on a very important subject so far over-neglected. I strongly believe that it should be considered as required reading for undergraduate and graduate students of different disciplines, and for field archaeologists especially involved in commercial archaeology.” (Debora Moretti, Magic Ritual and Witchcraft, Vol. 13 (1), 2018)

“Ronald Hutton, Timothy Eastham and their fellow contributors are to be congratulated on a book full of interest. … the book is largely concerned with the English evidence but with a final glance at Australia and United States. Its great merit is that it takes seriously as a subject of study the puzzling graffiti scratched, drawn and painted in buildings. … the book is really the beginning ofa conversation rather than the last word on the subject.” (Richard Suggett, Archaeologia Cambrensis, Vol. 166, 2017)

"Few historical works have the capacity to make us see an extended period of history in a completely new way. This deeply enjoyable collection, applying archaeology to the history of ideas, does just that. Ronald Hutton's collection of essayists show how physical and archaeological survivals which have been relegated to the intellectual margins by being classified as merely picturesque, are 'prayers made solid', and deserve our serious consideration in understanding the past." - Diarmaid MacCulloch, Professor of the History of the Church, University of Oxford, UK

"A fascinating collection, full of colourful, arresting and sometimes frankly puzzling findings, which pose new questions about continuity and change in popular belief. Readers will be left in no doubt that the 'material culture of magic' is a dimension of the historical record scholars can no longer afford to overlook." - Peter Marshall, University of Warwick, UK

Editors and Affiliations

University of Bristol, UK

Ronald Hutton

About the editor

John Billingsley, Independent Scholar, UK Tabitha Cadbury, Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery, UK Matthew Champion, Freelance Archaeologist, UK Alexander Cummins, University of Bristol, UK Owen Davies, University of Hertfordshire, UK Timothy Easton, Independent Artist and Sculptor, UK Dinah Eastop, University College London, UK Ian Evans, University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia Brian Hoggard, Independent Scholar, UK M. Chris Manning, Dovetail Cultural Resource Group, USA June Swann MBE, Northampton Museum, UK

Bibliographic Information

Book Title: Physical Evidence for Ritual Acts, Sorcery and Witchcraft in Christian Britain
Book Subtitle: A Feeling for Magic
Editors: Ronald Hutton
Series Title: Palgrave Historical Studies in Witchcraft and Magic
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137444820
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan London
eBook Packages: Palgrave History Collection, History (R0)
Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2015
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-137-44481-3Published: 27 October 2015
Softcover ISBN: 978-1-349-56884-0Published: 14 May 2020
eBook ISBN: 978-1-137-44482-0Published: 26 January 2016
Series ISSN: 2731-5630
Series E-ISSN: 2731-5649
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XIV, 261
Topics: History of Britain and Ireland, History of Medieval Europe, History of Religion, Social History

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Table of contents (13 chapters)

Front Matter

Back Matter

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