The Archaeology of Ritual and MagicLike all human activities, ritual customs, intended to gain advantage or avert disaster by supernatural means, have left their mark on the archaeological record. Yet archaeologists are often reluctant to recognize evidence of behavior that has no obvious material purpose. Even where they realize that something unusual has occurred, they will put forward every other possible explanation in terms of accident or functional utility, however improbable. For the first time, Ralph Merrifield systematically looks at the evidence for European ritual from prehistoric times to the present day. In examining different kinds of ritual, superstition and magic whether animal sacrifice, offerings to earth and water, spells and charms, or antidotes to witchcraft he shows how common patterns of activity have continued with little alteration over the centuries. Through fundamental changes of religious belief from primitive animism to developed paganism, from paganism to Christianity, from traditional Catholicism to Protestantism, and even from religious faith to scientific rationalism the same kinds of simple ritual have survived to give comfort and a sense of security. Profusely illustrated, this provocative and readable study will not only be required reading for archaeologists at all levels, but will also appeal to all those interested in folklore and the oddities of human behavior." |
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Contents
Offerings to earth and water in preRoman and Roman times | 22 |
Rituals of death | 58 |
From Paganism to Christianity | 83 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
accompanied activity animal apparently archaeological archaeologists associated axes belief beneath body bones bottle Britain bronze building built burial buried century charms Christian church City of London coins common complete considered contained continued course curse custom dead death deliberately deposits dogs doubt earlier early evidence example excavated fact finds floor foundation fourth grave head horses human included indicate intended interesting interpretation Iron Age kind late later lead least London magical Museum nature Neolithic objects occur offerings original pagan particularly perhaps period person pins placed possible pots pottery practice presumably probably protective reason recent recognised recorded relics religious remains rite ritual ritual deposits river Roman seems shaft shoes shrine significance similar skulls sometimes spirit stone Street suggested symbols temple Thames tomb tradition usually votive wall witch witch-bottle witchcraft written
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Archaeology of Ritual and Magic A Batsford Book |
| Author | Ralph Merrifield |
| Edition | illustrated |
| Publisher | Batsford, 1987 |
| Original from | Indiana University |
| Digitized | Aug 13, 2009 |
| ISBN | 0713448709, 9780713448702 |
| Length | 224 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |