Witchcraft charm

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:	0098: 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
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