The Afterlife of Pilgrim Signs in Europe: use, re-use and ritual practice

To date, over 30,000 finds of religious souvenirs (pilgrim signs) from different parts of Europe are recorded in
publicly accessible databases. Such items are traditionally considered sources for understanding religious industry,
travel and networks. The perception has been that their role was generally over as soon as they were no
longer a part of the pilgrim’s personal equipment. However, artefact studies using public finds databases show
many examples with traces of extensive wear and modification. This indicates that they might have had an
extended afterlife in different contexts as items laden with religious symbolism and inherent powers. As such,
they were a part of everyday life as objects of use, handled in pragmatic ways that included reshaping, cutting,
piercing and bending. This should be taken into consideration when interpreting their find contexts, and how
they are deposited in their owners’ surroundings, whether in water, wetlands, cultural layers, buildings, burials
or incorporated in church furnishing.