Chris,

After reading your article in Historical Archaeology on this topic, I have a related question about witch bottles. Are you or anyone on this list serve familiar with any examples of glass bottles/bottle bases incorporated in stone foundations? There is an example in Hillsdale County, Michigan along US12. I've thought for years that it seems a strange thing to include in a foundation and could not see how had anything to do with the need for building materials, stabilizing, etc. I figured it was simply a fluke, but now maybe not.

Misty


Misty Jackson, Ph.D., RPA
Arbre Croche Cultural Resources,
www.arbrecroche.com
Center for Maritime and 
Underwater Resource Management
www.cmurm.org

On Apr 7, 2015, at 11:20 PM, M. Chris Manning wrote:

> This is most likely evidence of a widespread folk practice in which a
> horseshoe or other iron object, such as an edge tool, is secured to a
> building or integrated into the structure itself to bring good luck and/or
> protection to the house. Check out my recent article in the fall issue of
> Historical Archaeology. I specifically discuss horseshoes on pages 72-73. 
> 
> Manning, M. Chris. 2014. The Material Culture of Ritual Concealments in the
> United States. Historical Archaeology 48(3):52-83. 
> 
> I would be very interested in learning more about the details of this find
> and seeing some photos. Please message me off list.
> 
> Chris
> 
> M. Chris Manning, M.A., M.S.H.P.
> [log in to unmask]
> [log in to unmask]
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ben
> Resnick
> Sent: Tuesday, April 7, 2015 1:56 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Horseshoes - Foundations
> 
> We encountered several horseshoes buried partially beneath the corner of a
> dressed stone foundation at a 19th century domestic site located along the
> southern Virginia coastal plain.  Additional horseshoes were also recovered
> along the foundation wall of an early 20th century addition.  I would be
> interested to hear of any similar observations for these site types
> including information regarding the possible background of site occupants
> (ethnicity, etc.).
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Ben
> [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> 
> Ben Resnick, MA, RPA, MBA
> GAI Consultants, Inc.
> 385 East Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA 15120-5005
> 412.476.2000 ext. 1200 | C 412.759.3156
>