- Title: Secrets Of The Dead: Bewitched
- Date: 10th May 2001
- Summary: From the 15th to the 17th century,over 40,000 people were executed across Europe and colonial America for the crime of witchcraft. This programmes examines evidence for witchcraft and the possibility that the signs of bewitchment such as hallucinations,convulsions etc were a symptom of fungus on grain supplies.
- Description:SEE RECORD 110338 FOR SHOTLIST In Salem,New England 19 innocent men and women were hanged in 1692. Their crime was witchcraft. Now American scientist Linda Caporeal may have discovered why they were sent to the gallows,and it's all linked to the hallucinogenic drug LSD. In the middle ages 40,000 witches were executed across Europe,accused of bewitchment a mysterious affliction that saw children convulse in agony,animals die violent deaths and villagers plagued by hallucinations. Caporeal believes they were the victims of ergot poisoning. Ergot is the fungus from which LSD is derived. It also infects rye the dominant crop of the time. The nightmare visions of the villages were in fact bad acid trips and ergot poisoning may have been misinterpreted as bewitchment way back in 2300 BC. Secrets of the Dead has conducted post-mortem forensic testing on the stomach contents of Grauballe man a peat bog body hacked to death in the Iron Age. It seems his executioners thought he was bewitched as well.
- Broadcaster:Channel 4
- Collection: Channel 4
- Genre:Documentary and Factual
- Producer:Mentorn Barraclough Carey Productions Ltd.
- Programme Episode:Episode 1
- Transmission Date:10/05/2001
- Rights:On Request
- Decade: 2000s