Witchcraft charm

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This calf's heart was stuck full of pins and used as a charm against witchcraft at Dalkeith in Midlothian. It was found in 1812.

The dehydrated/desiccated animal heart has iron pins inserted randomly into it.

The charm was found under a flagstone floor in a building that was known to have housed cattle. A local woman, then aged about 80, thought that it might have been used about 50 years earlier, in the mid 18th century. There had been a serious outbreak of cattle disease which had been blamed on witchcraft.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-002-720-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.NO 22
• Date: Mid 18th century
  
• Material: Calf's heart
  
• Dimensions: 85 mm L x 70 mm W x 60 mm D
  
• What:
• Subject: Jewellery: charms, amulets (NMAS Classification)
  
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Dalkeith
  
• Event:
• Description: Calf's heart which was stuck full of pins and used as a charm in witchcraft in Dalkeith
  
• References:
  • Archaeologia Scotica 3, pp 300-1 
  • Black, G.F. 'Scottish charms and amulets', Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 27 (1892-3), pp 498-9 
• Translations:
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