'Ritual litter' redressed

Ritual deposition is not an activity that many people in the Western world would consider themselves participants of. The enigmatic beliefs and magical thinking that led to the deposition of swords in watery places and votive statuettes in temples, for example, may feel irrelevant to the modern day. However, it could be argued that ritual deposition is a more widespread feature now than in the past, with folk assemblages -- from roadside memorials and love-lock bridges to wishing fountains and coin trees -- emerging prolifically worldwide. Despite these assemblages being as much the result of ritual activity as historically deposited objects, they are rarely given the same academic attention or heritage status. Besides exploring the nature of ritual deposition in the contemporary West, and the beliefs and symbolism behind various assemblages, this Element examines the heritage of the modern-day deposit, promoting a renegotiation of the pejorative term 'ritual litter'--back cover