Disir
Platinum Member
- Sep 30, 2011
- 28,003
- 9,607
- 910
This week, archaeologists conducting excavations at the abandoned church of St. Mary’s in Stoke Mandeville, England, discovered strange stone carvings and medieval graffiti suspected to be “witches’ marks,” or protective symbols designed to ward off evil spirits.
Per a statement, the etchings are among the many “exciting” archaeological finds made ahead of construction of HS2, a controversial, high-speed railways set to connect much of Great Britain. Previous discoveries include the skeleton of an Iron Age murder victim, remnants of Britain’s prehistoric coastline and a prehistoric hunter-gatherer site on the outskirts of London.
Two stones found at St. Mary’s feature spoke-like lines radiating out from central holes—a design perhaps meant to entrap malicious spirits, dooming them to forever wander around an endless line or maze. Alternatively, the statement notes, the markings could be rudimentary sun dials, or scratch dials, used to signal when it was time for morning, midday and evening prayers.
/https%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler%2F12%2Fc2%2F12c2c957-76a0-4dd5-9870-75bf46060ad5%2Fst_marys_graffiti_3.jpg)
www.smithsonianmag.com
What is leading people to believe that it is "witches marks" is the location on the west side near the ground.
On another note, I kind of feel bad for nations that have thousands and thousands years of history and especially in the ME and Europe. You can't build anything without running into the problem of hitting a historical site.
Per a statement, the etchings are among the many “exciting” archaeological finds made ahead of construction of HS2, a controversial, high-speed railways set to connect much of Great Britain. Previous discoveries include the skeleton of an Iron Age murder victim, remnants of Britain’s prehistoric coastline and a prehistoric hunter-gatherer site on the outskirts of London.
Two stones found at St. Mary’s feature spoke-like lines radiating out from central holes—a design perhaps meant to entrap malicious spirits, dooming them to forever wander around an endless line or maze. Alternatively, the statement notes, the markings could be rudimentary sun dials, or scratch dials, used to signal when it was time for morning, midday and evening prayers.
Eerie Witches' Marks Found Among Ruins of Medieval English Church
Archaeologists in Stoke Mandeville found carvings probably designed to ward off evil spirits
www.smithsonianmag.com
What is leading people to believe that it is "witches marks" is the location on the west side near the ground.
On another note, I kind of feel bad for nations that have thousands and thousands years of history and especially in the ME and Europe. You can't build anything without running into the problem of hitting a historical site.
Last edited:
