Notes on Scottish Curing-Stones and Amulets
Charm Stones, Curing Stones, Medicine, Superstition, Folklore, Animal remains, Animal sacrifice, Adamnan, Stone, Original Documents, Hagiography, Female antiquarians, Robert the Bruce
Scotland, UK
Antiquity, Nineteenth century
Abstract
The author discusses the intersection of magic, superstition and medicine from written records in Antiquity to the superstitions still practiced in Scotland in the nineteenth century. Most of the article is dedicated to the discussion of items such as stones or charms that were believed to cure disease in humans and livestock. Several examples associated with famous Scots were borrowed and exhibited on the day and some of the artefacts in the Society’s museum are also mentioned.