Skip to content

Ritual Protection Marks & Ritual Practices

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

The page has been created to promote and disseminate research into medieval & historic graffiti; the archaeological identification of apotropaic symbols and the phenomenon of intentionally concealed objects within buildings intended to ward against misfortune. Contributions are welcomed!

  • Graffiti
  • Taper Burns
  • Notable Headstones….
  • Illustrated Talks 2022
  • Figurative & Pictorial Graffiti
  • Mythological Creatures of the Sea
  • Intercessors: Folk Saints or notable Pious Individuals
  • Magical Protection of Agricultural Buildings
  • Archaeological Surveys & Building Recording
  • Notable Monuments
  • Witch Bottles
  • Spiritual Middens: Foundation Deposit, Spirit Trap or Counter Witchcraft Measure?
  • Notable Links
  • Home
  • Uncategorised

Author: Wayne Perkins

I am an archaeologist with over twenty years of experience. After a decade or so working as a volunteer on excavations in the 1990’s, I undertook my degree in Archaeology at the University of Birmingham. In the last year of my degree I helped to supervise the university’s annual excavations. Directly after my exams I began my career in Commercial Archaeology as a Field Archaeologist with Oxford Archaeology and remained there for four years. Anticipating a career in archaeology in France I volunteered on excavations at Rom and at Prisse-la-Charriere, Niort (for Poitiers & Rennes University respectively). In due course I worked for the States’ premier scientific organization, I.N.R.A.P. (Institut Nationale des Récherches Archéologiques Préventives) as well as for a number of private companies. I returned to the UK in 2013 and resumed my role as a Supervisor, undertaking projects around Oxfordshire with John Moore Heritage Services before moving to London in 2014. I now undertake Historic Building Surveys and supervise urban excavations in the City of London as well as overseeing rural excavations in surrounding Sussex, Surrey & Kent. Wayne Perkins BA Hons (Archaeology) ACIfA (Associate Member, Chartered Institute for Archaeologists)

Chapter 5: Concealed Deposits: Dried, Mummified & Smoked cats

Main image: Mummified cat from the collection held by the ‘Museum in the Park,’ Stroud, Gloucestershire collection In 1951, Margaret … More

apotropaic, archaeology, architecture, cats, folklore, history, immured cats, medieval, mummified

The Horncastle Scythes: Folk tale or historic artefacts?

High above an arch leading to the Lady chapel of St Mary’s, Horncastle, Lincolnshire is a collection of 13 agricultural … More

apotropaics, archaeology, church, folklore, history, weeping-chancel, writing

Chapter 5: Spiritual Middens: Decoys, Spirit Traps or Counter Witchcraft Measures?

Main image: A small sample of the 500 items rescued from the Sittingbourne ‘Cache’ discovered in former The Plough public … More

The Misidentification of Masons’ Marks and the Antiquarian Delusion

Wayne Perkins 18th July 2026 This short blog is a response to the recent article in the Guardian, published on … More

archaeology, architecture, europe, history

Chapter Five: Concealed Objects – Old Boots & Shoes

Main photo: A rare example of a concealed shoe from a church context of Holy Trinity, Raleigh, Essex. Photo: Southend … More

archaeology, folklore, history

Dancing With the Moonlit Knight: Pentangles, Plague Arrows & Marian Marks

The Church of St Peter, South Weald. Grade II* Listed No.1297216 At St Peter’s,  the present south aisle was the … More

england, europe, history

Ritual Protection of Crops & Livestock: Upminster Tithe Barn, London Borough of Havering.

Upminster Tithe Barn was built c.1450 as part of the estate that supported Waltham Abbey. It has recently been restored … More

Chapter 4: Ritual Taper Burn Marks

Over the last twenty-five years, archaeologists have been recordingtaper burn marks on medieval and later building timbers. Oncethought to be … More

Interview with Wayne Perkins, author of ‘A Consensus of Symbols: Patterns in Ritual Building Protection’

Wayne Perkins interviewed by Dee ‘For The Lost’ show on Resonance FM which focusses upon the arts.

Chapter 3: Apotropaic Graffiti & Inscriptions

Chapter 3 deals with ‘apotropaic’ graffiti and inscriptions and discusses the appropriate use of the terms, ‘apotropaic’ or ‘ritual protection … More

Posts navigation

Older posts
Blog at WordPress.com.
Ritual Protection Marks & Ritual Practices
Blog at WordPress.com.
  • Subscribe Subscribed
    • Ritual Protection Marks & Ritual Practices
    • Join 29 other subscribers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Ritual Protection Marks & Ritual Practices
    • Subscribe Subscribed
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
Loading Comments...