I am aware of at least one instance of an apparent witch bottle
recovered from an archaeological site here in Kentucky; it was a
stoppered glass vial containing several pins and was recovered by a
hearth. The association wasn't the best, as the house had been
destroyed, but luckily, the vial was intact and was actually recovered
beneath the hearth. Additional pins, several of which were bent into
loops, were recovered around a nearby doorway, along with several glass
shards that may have been another vial. The most likely candidate for
deposition of the artifacts was an Irish family that had emigrated to
the US in 1848. 
The most common type of charm I've identified would be chert bifaces or
projectile points found in and around hearths in historic structures.
According to a 1921 book of common folk beliefs and superstitions in
Kentucky, "Indian flints" were used to keep hawks off your chickens.
It's a belief I have not tested.

Daniel B. Davis
Archaeologist Coordinator
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
Division of Environmental Analysis
200 Mero Street
Frankfort, KY 40622
(502) 564-7250


-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ian
Evans
Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2006 3:23 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Concealed objects in buildings

Dear HistArchers,

I'm curious to know if you're aware of finds of concealed objects (ie
charms) in houses and other buildings in North America.
The custom is widespread in England and also occurred in Australia.
The most common items are shoes which are general found in sealed voids,
either in the subfloor area or associated with the hearth and the
chimney.
These were thought to act as lures, decoying evil spirits and witches
away from the people who lived in or used the building.
I have a couple of reports of finds in the US and am wondering if anyone
out there has comes across other examples. An outline of this practice
is on my website: www.oldhouses.com.au.

Ian Evans
Byron Bay, NSW
Australia