archaeologist Jacqui Wood (Jacqui Wood) found in the area of Cornwall traces of a mysterious ritual.It is assumed that in the XVII century is held ceremonies sorcerer used a very unusual magical devices.
in clay soils creek bed Archaeologists have discovered a number of 35 holes with a diameter of 35-40 cm and depth of 17 cm, writes Spiegel.Some of them were lined with swan-skin - white feathers out.On one side were the remains of two forty, and in pits were neatly stacked birds' eggs of all sizes.The shell is not preserved, but the surviving protective membrane possible to determine: eggs were
formed chicks, almost ready to hatch.
C 1482 all mute swans floating in the open waters of England are considered the property of the royal house.Murder swan goes unpunished: even in 2005, the composer Sir Peter Maxwell Davies (Sir Peter Maxwell Davies) was forced to answer questions from the police because of a dead swan by his fault.But in the XVII killing swans, and even for the purpose of sorcery punishable by burning at the stake.
examining the contents of the pits, Wood was looking for a long time finding a rational explanation.The slaughter of poultry?But where does the skin swans and forty?"It seems to me that there is no other explanation - it traces of a pagan ritual - suggests Wood.- I used to believe that when the archaeologist something could not understand, he calls the find "ritual" or "magical".Now, ironically, I found something that simply can not be interpreted differently. "
What a ritual conducted a sorcerer?It had to be something very important, because all the inhabitants of the settlement Seyvok Water (Saveock Water), next to which, and found traces of ritual, risked their lives.As further excavations, many of them took part in the ceremonies.
Magpies are still considered in Cornwall subject of superstition.Bird eggs are considered a symbol of fertility, the beginning of a new life.
As suggested by the archaeologist, perhaps a young woman who could not get pregnant in the first year of marriage, come to this sacrificial pits to ask for the help of a higher power.If witchcraft "worked", the woman returned to their pit, and the contents burned to release the souls of the dead birds.
«On successful cases say empty pits - continued Wood.- The pits containing the remains of birds can mean either that the ritual has not helped, either that their "the owner" were executed as witches before they could return to the venue of the ceremony. "
However, as noted by the archaeologist, this is only a theory.Similar findings have not previously encountered during the excavation, and historians still can not draw parallels with pagan folk culture and its rites.
far from the graves of birds in the riverbed, archaeologists found the remains of strips of fabric - 125 different bars, and three of them - from wool and silk."Such clothing was worn only by the very rich, - says Wood.- Residents Seyvok Water worked at the nearest mill, they could not afford the clothes. "
strips of cloth - traces of the ritual, which is still common in Cornwall.The patient has cut a piece of cloth from her dress and tied to a branch or tree trunk over the pond so that the fabric was in the water.When tissue rot, a disease disappear - says the popular belief.
magic End in Cornwall come in the same century, to which the find - in the XVII century.In the turbulent times of religious conflict and the English Civil War wiped out all traces of paganism.Who slept clay creek, which was made a surprising discovery - it is unknown.Perhaps it was the people of Cromwell.And maybe - you witches Seyvok Water who were quicker and managed to hide the traces of their mysterious rituals.
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Articles Source: schizopolis.ru
