Witch's cursing bone

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).

Record details

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Online ID:	000-100-002-753-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0098: 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
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
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