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.