Archeology News

[Dennis]

Witches of Cornwall

Interesting (I think) article from 2008. (The reporter's use of the word "witchraft" seems suspect at some points, maybe appropriate at others.)

More unusual finds came in 2005. Sandwiched between two of the rectangular pits was a round pit with a swan-feather lining. On top of the swan feathers nestled 55 eggs, seven of which contained chicks that would have been close to hatching. The shells of the eggs had dissolved, but the moist environment had preserved their membranes. Remains of magpies--birds associated with luck and superstition even today--had been placed on each side of the eggs.

Further excavation uncovered a stone-lined drain and a second pool that only fills in winter. Wood realized that the pools were much older than their contents, and that this site may have been special to people for thousands of years. Based on stratigraphic evidence, she believes the quartz-lined pools are 6,000 years old. "The white quartz would have made the pools glow in the moonlight, and we think they may have been very special, a place of ritual for people in those times," she speculates.

If the pools do date back that far, they retained their sacred status throughout the ages, as by the 17th century people were using them as a place of offering, throwing in personal fragments (such as fabric and hair) for good fortune. However, the practice stopped in the late 17th century, when the crown paid locals to fill in the pools (along with other "holy" wells in Cornwall) to prevent pagan rituals.

[lorna]

Oooh how odd, particularly how the 16th and 17th century practices relate to the Mesolithic ones. It does seem possible the eggs might have something to do with fertility rites. I wonder what the significance of the swans' feathers is. Perhaps it has something to do with birds as psychopomps bearing souls from and into the world?

I love that image of the quartz shining in the moonlight in the pools.

[Dennis]

Nov 5, 2017 8:45:37 GMT -1 lorna said:

Oooh how odd, particularly how the 16th and 17th century practices relate to the Mesolithic ones. It does seem possible the eggs might have something to do with fertility rites. I wonder what the significance of the swans' feathers is. Perhaps it has something to do with birds as psychopomps bearing souls from and into the world?

I love that image of the quartz shining in the moonlight in the pools.

I did a bit of net searching.  I trust someone will pipe up eventually if there is any misleading or wrong info in what I relate below:

Swans return from their winter migration at the *start* of spring (at least in Ireland), leading to an association with Imbolc and Brigid. As well, their mating for life is, as someone in the article mentions, symbolic of love and fidelity.  They may also be associated with Nos Calen Gaef (Samhain), guiding souls to the Otherworld, as you say, Lorna. This is mentioned in connection with being a sacred animal to the Druids.  I didn't see anything about bearing souls *into* the world, but it has a logic to it, I would think.  And the swan as a symbol *of* the soul is also suggestive of this to me.

The swan's completely pure white plumage might also reinforce the connection with Brigid.  From Druidry.org (OBOD):   Brigid: Survival of a Goddess

Imbolc divides winter in half; the Crone months of winter are departing and the promise of the Spring Maiden is around the corner. This holiday eventually became modern day Candlemas with Saint Brigid’s Day and the Feast of the Purification of Mary being celebrated during this period of time. This celebration was definitely a feminine festival. Women would gather to welcome the maiden aspect of the Goddess as embodied by Brigid. Corn cakes made from the first and last of the harvest were made and distributed and this practice remains a part of Her celebration. During these festivities, She was commonly represented by a doll, dressed in white, with a crystal upon Her chest.

This doll, usually a Corn Dolly, was carried in procession by maidens also dressed in white. Gifts of food were presented to the Goddess with a special feast given by and for the maidens. Young men were invited to this feast for the purpose of ritual mating to insure that new souls would be brought in to replace those lost during the cold times. 

[all emphasis above is mine]

Hmmm . . . I wonder how common pre-historic quartz-lined pools are?  And whether the detail above about the procession doll having a crystal upon her chest is trustworthy (??) 

A quartz-lined pool would reflect light into the entire body of water, (whether moon *or* sun), plus creating additional patterning on the surface. I speculate that 6000 years ago, the pool may have been used under moonlight, or in daylight, or both. It's not likely there was a need in that period, from fear of persecution for witchcraft, to use it only at night.

In addition to a (tenuous) possible connection of quartz crystal with Brigid, . . . perhaps the additional light and reflections would be an aid to scrying or divination?

The finding of claws from several kinds of birds reminds me of reading that Irish bards wore ceremonial cloaks made from the feathers of song-birds, with the neck and head covering of swan skin and feathers.   (Another web source only mentions swan feathers.)  (Song birds are known to sometimes form small flocks consisting of individuals (or pairs?) from several different species.)

The magpies "placed on each side of the eggs" in one pit reminds me of the old rhyme, in the version which I learned from my mother:

One crow sorrow,
Two crow joy,
Three crow girl,
Four crow boy,
[. . .]

. . . and which is likely much better known referring to magpies -- a bird not found in most of the eastern half of North America, where I grew up. (I see lots of them where I am now.)

The rhyme is common enough, I think, that the magpies "on either side" may not be just for "good luck" in general, but could even deliberately be a specific number of birds.