In the sixth chapter , " Written spells and charms " , Merrifield discuss the use of the written word in magical contexts . Highlighting archaeological examples from the ancient Graeco @-@ Roman world , he look at inscriptions on lead tablets that was buried in cemeteries and amphitheatres , both places associated with the dead . Moving on to the use of magic squares , Merrifield highlight various examples of the Sator square in archaeological contexts , before also discussing squares that contained numerical data with astrological significance . He round off the chapter with an examination of Post @-@ Medieval curses and charms containing the written word , citing examples that have been found by archaeologists across Britain , hidden inside various parts of buildings . In the seventh chapter , " Charms against witchcraft " , he deal with archaeological evidence for a variety of Early Modern and Modern British spells designed to ward off malevolent witchcraft . After briefly discussing the role of holed stone charms , he look at the evidence for witch bottles , making reference to their relation to beliefs about witches ' familiars . Proceeding to focus on 19th- and 20th @-@ century examples , Merrifield discuss the case of James Murrell , an English cunning man , and his involvement with the witch bottle tradition . Merrifield 's final chapter , " The ritual of superstition : recognition and potential for study " , provide an overview of the entire book , highlighting the evidence of ritual continuity from pre @-@ Christian periods to the present day . Pointing out what he see as areas of further exploration for archaeologists , he call for " systematic investigation " of the subject .