Since 2017, at least eight “witch bottles,” traditionally employed to ward off malevolent spells, have been discovered along the Gulf Coast.
As beachcombers stroll along the shore, they often encounter intriguing items. Recently, however, Texas has seen an influx of particularly peculiar objects: “witch bottles.” These were once utilized in attempts to dispel dark spells, and experts advise refraining from disturbing them.
“I’ve found around eight of these bottles and never opened one,” Jace Tunnell of the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies said. “I have five of them on my fence in the backyard since my wife won’t let me bring them inside.”
Since at least 2017, these “witch bottles” have been appearing on the Gulf Coast in Texas. The most recent discovery by Tunnell on Nov. 15 revealed gooseneck barnacles adorning its side, indicating that it had been drifting for a considerable period.
“They have sticks and leaves in them, different types of vegetation,” Tunnell explained. “Apparently, they’re supposed to have spells in them.”
According to Tunnell’s explanation to McClatchy News, individuals traditionally utilized these bottles to “draw in and trap harmful intentions directed at their owners.” This practice gained particular popularity in the 16th and 17th centuries in the United Kingdom, coinciding with a surge in belief in witches. In that region, hundreds of these bottles have been discovered, either hidden in walls or buried in the ground.
However, Tunnell remains uncertain about the origin of the witch bottles along the Gulf Coast. He speculates that they might be from Haiti, given his occasional discoveries of them “in debris that contains distinct yellow vinegar bottles.” Nevertheless, the bottles might have their origins in other regions of the Caribbean, South America, or possibly even West Africa.
“I don’t believe they are coming from the U.S., although I can’t be 100 percent sure since there is never any writing or indication of where they come from,” Tunnell noted. “However, we do find items washing up from all over the world due to the ocean currents.”
Originally, these bottles were filled with urine from the “cursed” individual or an animal, along with human hair, pins, or nails. However, the bottles discovered along the Gulf Coast primarily contain herbs, sticks, and leaves.
If you happen upon a witch bottle on the beach, experts recommend leaving it untouched and unopened.
“The theory is that if you open it you could let the spell out, whatever the reason the person had put the spell in there,” Tunnell said.
However, refraining from disturbing these bottles isn’t solely based on avoiding magical concerns. There’s also the possibility that they might harbor biohazards, making them physically hazardous, regardless of one’s belief in their association with black magic.
Despite the peculiar nature of the witch bottles, they are by no means the sole unusual discoveries made by Tunnell and fellow explorers along the Gulf Coast. Other findings encompass dolls covered in barnacles, a fully intact safe, a prosthetic leg, cargo from a German World War II ship, and approximately 30 conventional, non-magical messages in bottles.
This serves as a testament to the fact that unusual and extraordinary treasures may be in store for beachcombers patrolling the shoreline. However, if you happen upon a witch bottle, it’s likely advisable to refrain from disturbing it.
“I don’t get creeped out by them, but I’m also not going to open them,” Tunnell said. “I mean, they’re supposed to have spells and stuff in them — why take the chance?”
