Two forked-twig dowsing rods, 1994

Made:
1994 in Shirley

Two forked-twig dowsing rods, Solihull, UK, 1994. Each of these two rods is a complete instrument, designed to be held in tension at the open end.

Dowsing is a traditional technique that has been used for centuries as a way of finding water, oil or mineral deposits underground. Lightweight rods held by the dowser amplify small hand movements: a forked Y- or V-shaped twig or rod held in tension would tip up or down; or two lengths of wire bent into L shapes would cross or splay. The technique is generally deemed a pseudoscience, with controlled studies finding dowsing no more effective than chance at locating water bottles or pipes; some argue the movement of dowsing rods is caused by the dowser’s subconscious reaction to environmental cues. Nonetheless, the practice continues in some domains: several UK water companies were still using dowsing to locate leaks in the 2020s.

Details

Category:
Environmental Science & Technology
Object Number:
1999-890
Materials:
wood
Measurements:
overall: 400 x 200 x 50 mm
type:
dowsing rod
credit:
Moss, S