The Archaeology of Ritual and Magic

The Archaeology of Ritual and Magic examines material evidence of magical and ritual practices throughout European history, with a focus on discoveries in London and Southeast England. The study spans from the pre-Roman Iron Age through the Christian era, documenting practices like animal sacrifice, votive offerings, and foundation deposits. Merrifield analyzes archaeological findings to reconstruct historical beliefs and ceremonies, including burial customs and water-based rituals. The book presents evidence of magical practices that persisted from pagan times into the Christian period, incorporating physical artifacts, written spells, and architectural elements that suggest supernatural purposes. The work organizes findings by historical period and practice type, allowing readers to trace the evolution of ritual behaviors across cultures and times. Published in 1987 by B.T. Batsford, it quickly became a foundational text in the study of historical magical practices. This systematic examination of ritual artifacts challenges traditional archaeological approaches by highlighting the importance of studying magical and ceremonial aspects of past societies. The book established new methods for interpreting evidence of belief systems in material culture.

Readers describe this as a methodical examination of ritual objects and deposits found in Britain, with a focus on how archaeologists can identify and interpret evidence of magical practices. Readers appreciate: - Clear explanations of how everyday items became ritual objects - Photos and illustrations of artifacts - Coverage of both ancient and relatively modern practices - Documentation of building deposits and foundation rituals Common criticisms: - Writing style can be dry and academic - Focus is narrow (primarily British examples) - Some sections are repetitive - Limited discussion of theoretical frameworks Ratings: Goodreads: 4.13/5 (38 ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (9 ratings) Notable reader comments: "Documents fascinating practices that continued well into the 20th century" - Goodreads reviewer "Dense but rewarding for serious researchers" - Amazon reviewer "Would benefit from more comparative analysis with other cultures" - Goodreads reviewer

Cunning Folk and Familiar Spirits by Emma Wilby Documents the practices of early modern British cunning folk through archaeological evidence and historical records of their magical tools and ritual spaces.

The Death-Ritual and Social Structure in Classical Antiquity by Ian Morris Examines burial practices and funerary rituals in ancient Greece and Rome through material remains and grave goods.

Magic in the Cloister by Sophie Page Presents medieval monastic magical practices through analysis of manuscripts and ritual objects found in monastery excavations.

The Materiality of Magic by Dietrich Boschung and Jan N. Bremmer Catalogs physical evidence of magical practices from multiple archaeological sites across Europe, focusing on amulets, curse tablets, and ritual vessels.

Religion and Ritual in Ancient Egypt by Emily Teeter Connects archaeological findings with Egyptian magical practices through examination of temple remains, ritual tools, and votive offerings.

🔮 The book's publication in 1987 marked one of the first serious academic attempts to study magical artifacts as legitimate archaeological evidence 📜 Many practices documented in the book, like concealing shoes in walls for luck, continued well into the 20th century in parts of Britain 🏛️ Ralph Merrifield served as the Deputy Director of the Museum of London and was instrumental in preserving numerous Roman archaeological sites in London ⚱️ The research reveals that many Christian churches were deliberately built on former pagan ritual sites, with some incorporating older magical objects into their foundations 🗝️ The book documents how common household items like bent pins, broken pottery, and coins were frequently used as magical objects, challenging the notion that ritual items were always elaborate or expensive