Ron and Maureen

This practice is more global than Ron suggests.  For example, this
procedure has been practiced for at least 4,000 years in the Andes of
South America, and is till employed there today, so although the Spanish
came in 500 years ago, and although African slaves also were brought in,
so there is a possibility of some blending, basically the practice there
is Andean.  I would not be surprised if you found respondents talking
about it from around the world., in as mucha s we now have comments on
Europe, Africa, and South America....

dave browman


> Maureen,
>
> Burial of animal heads and certain kinds of artifacts near windows, doors,
> and firehearths is an old European pagan custom that evolved from appeasing
> earth deities to warding-off witches. Although I have never heard of raccoon
> skulls, this practice is known from the 16th-19th centuries in the Eastern
> seaboard and no doubt others will report more. This sounds like a mix of
> Aftrican and European protection rituals. There is a symposium planned for
> the Mobile, Alabama SHA Conference on this very topic.
>
> Ron May
> Legacy 106, Inc.
>