A Texas researcher has explicitly stated their lack of interest in exploring the outcome of cracking open any of the enigmatic ‘witch bottles’ that have been appearing along the Gulf of Mexico shores.
Earlier this month, Jace Tunnell, a researcher at the Harte Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, discovered the eighth ‘witch bottle’ that had washed up on the beach close to Corpus Christi, Texas, since 2017.
Containers resembling the one described, containing a variety of contents like plants, spices, metallic nails, strands of hair, or bodily fluids, have been previously found in the UK concealed within walls or buried underground.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, a strong conviction in the abilities of witches to induce sickness through spells led individuals to take measures to protect themselves against these perceived threats, as explained by the McGill University Office of Science and Society.
The society clarifies that evil spells could be repelled by containing them within a ‘witch bottle.’ When properly crafted, this bottle could deflect the spell, simultaneously causing distress to the witch. This would compel the witch to revoke the spell, enabling the victim to recuperate.
While the bottles aim to prevent malevolent spells, Tunnell told Fox News Digital that he won’t take the chance of opening one.
“He mentioned that while they don’t give him the creeps, he also has no intention of opening them.”
“Why risk it when they’re supposed to contain spells and such?”
Instead of that, Tunnell has chosen to exhibit all the bottles he’s discovered along his rear fence.
He clarified, “While my wife allows bringing shells indoors, she prefers I refrain from bringing in any spell bottles.”
Witch bottles are notably less common in the United States compared to the United Kingdom. Tunnell suggests that the bottles found along the Gulf of Mexico shores likely originated from the Caribbean or South America.
The researcher described discovering bottles resembling thin yellow vinegar containers made in Haiti. However, it remains uncertain whether these bottles were intentionally placed in the water or if they were carried into a river before reaching the ocean.
“Much of what we discover, even far from water, eventually finds its way into the closest watercourse during rainfall. And where does that ultimately lead? The ocean,” Tunnell explained.
The researcher’s decision not to open the bottle is based on the potential risk of spells, yet there’s also the possibility that the bottles contain biohazards, rendering them unsafe to open.
Various items, including witch bottles, have been discovered washed up on the Gulf of Mexico shore. Alongside these, Tunnell has exhibited an abandoned drone, misplaced ship provisions, and numerous messages found in bottles.
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