Witch's cursing bone

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This 'cursing bone' belonged to a reputed witch in Glen Shira at Inveraray in Argyll who supposedly used it to 'ill-will' people in the community. The blood of a newly-killed hen was poured through the bone as a curse was spoken, according to a local tradition collected by Lady Elspeth Campbell.

The bone is the thigh bone of a deer or sheep, fixed through a naturally formed, diamond-shaped piece of bog oak (in which a knot has left a hole).

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• Online ID: 000-100-002-753-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.NO 78
• Date: Possibly 19th century
  
• Material: Bone / bog oak
  Charm
  
• Dimensions: 110 mm x 70 mm
  
• What: Charm
  
• Subject: Jewellery: charms, amulets (NMAS Classification)
  
• Who:
• Where:
• Event:
• Description: Witch's cursing-bone, fixed through a diamond-shaped piece of bog oak
  
• References:
  • Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 78 (1943-4), p 141 
• Translations:
• Related Records: