ABSTRACT
This chapter illustrates one of many performances that would have taken place in medieval Europe to allay fears and protect against disasters. It explores how we can recognize similar activities in the archaeological record. It is a challenge to identify what may be simple or humble objects that were used in extraordinary ways. In contrast to the relative ease of identifying physical effects of disasters such as earthquakes, flooding or fire, we need to form new ways of identifying and investigating quotidian objects that may have been used to protect people, their possessions and land. The disasters that medieval people feared could range from the tangible and observed fire, flood or shipwreck, for example to the intangible witchcraft, the acts of the Devil or acts of God. The chapter explains that it was not only relics that invoked power but homemade versions too.
