“It was a glass container filled with nails… We thought it was something unusual, but we couldn't pinpoint what it was.”
Library of CongressA painting depicting the Battle of Williamsburg in 1862. The Union occupied the area after defeating the Confederates.
While Jones is confident that the bottle's use remains a hypothesis, the location, contents and historical context of the find have convinced him.
Ultimately, previous research has shown that these bottles were often found near hearths and chimneys and were used for this very purpose.
“They are placed near the hearth so that the heat from the fire warms the nails, which helps to lure and hold evil spirits,” Jones added.
Other items found during the excavations included fragments of a flask, bullets, horseshoe nails, uniform buttons, parts of inkwells and much more.
The bottle, labeled “Charles Grove of Columbia, PA,” is one of fewer than a dozen found in the United States, while about 200 have been discovered in the United Kingdom.
Most recently, during renovations to the roof of the former home of 18th century witch Angelina Tubbs, an item containing human teeth, fish hooks and a mysterious liquid was found.
Sourse: www.allthatsinteresting.com
