Throughout accounts of 17th-century witch trials in Europe and North America, physical features alone were considered undeniable proof of witchcraft. The belief was that the devil branded witches’ bodies with symbolic, material marks – such as unusual growths or blemishes. This led to routine in witch trials. The discovery of such marks was thought to be strong medical and scientific evidence of witchcraft and frequently sealed the victim’s fate.
Authors
- Michelle Spear
Professor of Anatomy, University of Bristol
- Rebecca Shepherd
Senior Lecturer in Human Anatomy, School of Anatomy, University of Bristol
Here are just some of the anatomical features that historically would have been used to label someone a witch:
Are you a woman?
While men were occasionally accused of witchcraft, historical witch hunts – particularly women who led an independent lifestyle (such as widows and spinsters) or who were outspoken and didn’t conform to societal norms. Historians estimate that of witchcraft in the 16th and 17th centuries were female.
Religious teachings at the time reinforced the idea that women were morally weaker and therefore .
By this standard, if you identify as female today, you are one of approximately 3.95 billion potential “witches”.
How old are you?
Age was another factor in witch trials. , especially those past childbearing age, were – particularly if they were a widow, owned property or lived alone.
Records suggest that more than half of those accused of witchcraft in Scotland between 1563-1736 were . At this time, the average life expectancy was around .
Today, with around 1.4 billion women , many more might have found themselves under similar suspicion by historical standards.
Do you have an extra nipple?
The “witch’s teat” was a common trait witch-hunters used to identify someone as being a witch. This extra nipple was thought to be used by witches to nurse so-called demonic familiars – often imagined to be . Witch-hunters would examine the chest or torso for any irregularity and .
In reality, (or polythelia) are benign. These form during early embryonic development and in some people do not fully disappear.
Another feature sometimes mistaken for a supernumerary teat was the clitoris. Historical accounts suggest that women were sometimes convicted based on the size of this body part. Pamphlets from the time, which describe the process of identifying a “witches’ teat,” often mention located near a woman’s “fundament” or “privy place” – euphemisms for a woman’s genitals.
It’s estimated that of the world’s population have at least one extra nipple. They appear more often on the left-hand side of the chest and are more common in men. Harry Styles, who has openly discussed having , would perhaps have been far less inclined to share this detail about himself in the 17th century.
Do you have a birthmark?
Any type of birthmark or skin discolouration could be labelled as a “devil’s mark” in the 17th century. Matthew Hopkins, the infamous “witchfinder general”, considered , freckle or birthmark a sign of a . Witch-hunters would often prick these marks with pins, believing that a true devil’s mark would not bleed or cause pain.
today are born with some – making it a surprisingly common trait for so-called witches.
Pigmented birthmarks, such as moles or café au lait spots (flat, light-coloured birthmarks) result from that form during development. Vascular types, such as port wine stains (which are flat and red or purple in colour), are due to malformations in tiny blood vessels near the surface of the skin. Port wine stain birthmarks appear in only about 0.3% of children – but are .
Do you have a mole or skin tag?
Moles and skin tags were also seen as possible . Witch-hunters would also test moles by attempting to cut or prick them. Like with birthmarks, if they didn’t bleed it meant that the person was .
Today, we know that moles are simply , while skin tags are small, harmless growths that form when the . Yet in the 17th century, these innocent marks spelled disaster.
Do you have an extra digit?
Polydactyly, or having an extra finger or toe, was another rare but suspicious trait. An extra digit was seen as a supernatural deviation – alleged to enhance a witch’s powers as .
In reality, polydactyly is a harmless genetic mutation – affecting about . But in the past, this rare trait placed those who had it under scrutiny in .
Do you have red hair?
Red hair, an unusual trait, was considered ominous in certain regions – . Some theories suggest that red hair’s rarity and association with a fiery temperament or pagan ancestry . The notorious Malleus Maleficarum (“Hammer of Witches”), the 1468 treatise about witchcraft, , linking them to “tempting powers” and “wild spirits”.
Today, of the global population has red hair – though around 6% of people carry some red hair genetics. But in the 17th century, this uncommon trait may have increased suspicion that someone was a witch.
So, are you a witch?
If you have none of these traits, you would probably have been safe from early modern witch-hunters. But if you had at least one of these anatomical features, you may have had suspicions levelled against you.
Fortunately, all UK Witchcraft Acts were – which means these common features are now just anatomical quirks and nothing more.
