Stones With Unusual Marks Found During Church Restoration; Historians Claim These Are 'Witches' Marks to Ward off Evil Spirits

In 2020, as part of the H2 project, archaeologists uncovered some intriguing markings, medieval graffiti, and stone carvings from a church in the U.K. These were spotted in the remains of St Mary’s at Stoke Mandeville, HS2 shared. Certain markings have been speculated to be 'repellants' that were used in the Middle Ages to drive away witches. 

These repelling markings were spotted on two stones that carried a drilled hole. The hole appears to be the origin of a set of radiating lines, enveloped in a circle, as per researchers. The medieval belief was that if witches looked at these markings they would get entrapped in this maze-like setting. Similar marks have been located in other churches, houses, and even on furniture. Researchers are not certain about this assertion, and believe that the markings could also represent ‘scratch dials.’ The radiating lines in this apparatus were grouped in such a manner, that the whole day could be divided into morning prayer, midday prayer, and evening prayer.  

These particular markings were detected in the west buttress and were near the ground. This aspect makes researchers question the assertion that it was used as a sundial. The scratch dials were typically placed near the southern door of the church due to the ease of viewing the sun. Experts are glad that the discovery caused so much debate.

"The archaeology work being undertaken as part of the HS2 project is allowing us to reveal years of heritage and British history and share it with the world. Discoveries such as these unusual markings have opened up discussions as to their purpose and usage, offering a fascinating insight into the past," Michael Court, Lead Archaeologist at HS2 Ltd said.

Archaeologists excavated and deconstructed the medical church remains. Their analysis revealed that even after a past demolition, five feet of the building survived beneath the rubble. They were also able to piece together the establishment's history. As per examinations, the church was constructed in 1070, sometime after the Norman conquest. Experts speculate that initially, it functioned as a private chapel of the then-lord of the manor. In the 1340s the church appears to have been extended and an aisle was seemingly added. Researchers believe these extensions were done to transform the church into a place of worship for local civilians. The church was possibly abandoned after a new one was built closer to the village in 1866.

Researchers were ecstatic with the new findings that were coming forth with their excavation. "The HS2 excavation work at Stoke Mandeville has allowed our team of archaeologists to uncover a unique site and get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to examine the story of how the church at St Mary’s developed. The levels of preservation of some of the features of the church are surprising given its age, and we look forward to continuing this work and being able to share our discoveries with the local communities," Andrew Harris, Historic Environment Manager from Fusion JV said. 

HS2 is a project that aims to build a high-speed railway network in Britain. Amidst the building, their objective is to also explore the country's rich history. There have been protests against the project in the country, because of the damage it was causing in some parts, like the cutting of a 250-year-old pear tree, stated BBC.