 Chapter five , " Survivals , revivals and reinterpretations " , continues Merrifield 's exploration of ritual practices in Christian Europe . He examines Late- and Post @-@ Medieval items that have been deposited in rivers , including swords and pilgrimage souvenirs , speculating that their deposition might represent a survival from the pagan tradition of casting votive offerings into water . He speculates that the contemporary practice of throwing a coin into a fountain for good luck is a further survival of the custom . He then discusses the evidence for ritual foundation deposits under buildings , noting the widespread Medieval deposition of an animal 's head or jaw in a construction 's foundations , presumably for protective magical purposes . Proceeding to deal with the Late- and Post @-@ Medieval deposition of pots under foundations , he looks at their place in churches , where it was believed that they aided the acoustics . Continuing with this theme , he discusses the British folk custom of burying a horse 's head under the floor to improve a building 's acoustics , speculating as to whether this was a survival of the pagan foundation deposit custom . Rounding off the chapter , Merrifield examines at magical items that have been intentionally placed in the walls , chimneys and roofs of buildings in Britain , in particular the widespread use of dead cats and old shoes . 
 Chapter five , " Survivals , revivals and reinterpretations " , <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>continues</mark></a> Merrifield <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>exploration of ritual practices in Christian Europe . He <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>examines</mark></a> Late- and Post @-@ Medieval items <a href='null_relcl' title='4'><mark>that</mark></a><a href='been_done' title='5'><mark>have</mark></a> been deposited in rivers , including swords and pilgrimage souvenirs , speculating that their deposition might represent a survival from the pagan tradition of casting votive offerings into water . He <a href='uninflect' title='6'><mark>speculates</mark></a> that the contemporary practice of throwing a coin into a fountain for good luck is a further survival of the custom . He then <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>discusses</mark></a> the evidence for ritual foundation deposits under buildings , noting the widespread Medieval deposition of an animal <a href='null_genetive' title='8'><mark>'s</mark></a>head or jaw in a construction <a href='null_genetive' title='9'><mark>'s</mark></a>foundations , presumably for protective magical purposes . Proceeding to deal with the Late- and Post @-@ Medieval deposition of pots under foundations , he <a href='uninflect' title='10'><mark>looks</mark></a> at their place in churches , where it was believed that they aided the acoustics . Continuing with this theme , he <a href='uninflect' title='11'><mark>discusses</mark></a> the British folk custom of burying a horse <a href='null_genetive' title='12'><mark>'s</mark></a>head under the floor to improve a building <a href='null_genetive' title='13'><mark>'s</mark></a>acoustics , speculating as to whether this was a survival of the pagan foundation deposit custom . Rounding off the chapter , Merrifield examines at magical items <a href='null_relcl' title='14'><mark>that</mark></a><a href='been_done' title='15'><mark>have</mark></a> been intentionally placed in the walls , chimneys and roofs of buildings in Britain , in particular the widespread use of dead cats and old shoes . 
Chapter five , " Survivals , revivals and reinterpretations " , continue Merrifield  exploration of ritual practices in Christian Europe . He examine Late- and Post @-@ Medieval items done been deposited in rivers , including swords and pilgrimage souvenirs , speculating that their deposition might represent a survival from the pagan tradition of casting votive offerings into water . He speculate dat the contemporary practice of throwin a coin into a fountain fir good luck is a further survival of the custom . He then discuss the evidence for ritual foundation deposits under buildings , noting the widespread Medieval deposition of an animal  head or jaw in a construction  foundations , presumably fa protective magical purposes . Proceeding to deal with the Late- and Post @-@ Medieval deposition of pots under foundations , he look at their place in churches , where it was believed that they aided the acoustics . Continuing with this theme , he discuss the British folk custom of burying a horse  head under da floor to improve a building  acoustics , speculating as to whether this was a survival of the pagan foundation deposit custom . Rounding offf the chapter , Merrifield examines at magical items done been intentionally placed in tdawalls , chimneys and roofs of buildings in Britain , in particular the widespread use of dead cats and old shoes .