Archaeology and Gendered Magic: An Introduction

More than thirty years ago, archaeologist Ralph Merrifield observed that “ritual and magic were formerly part of everyday life, but by association with fantasy fiction and occultism they have now acquired an aura of sensationalism that has discouraged investigation. . . . [Yet] like all human activities, ritual customs, intended to gain advantage or avert disaster by supernatural means, have left their mark on the archaeological record” (1987, xiii). His assessment of the archaeological consideration of magic and ritual remains surprisingly valid today, especially in the field of American historical archaeology, where few published studies have focused on magic. This