Almost no one recognizes this antique tool – are you one of the few who do?

It’s understandable that by the time we’re old, many of us feel as though we’re living in a world that has changed rapidly due to the ebb and flow of trends.

Not only am I referring to significant changes, but also to the minor ones that appear to occur over decades. In addition to displaying us strange instruments and trinkets that no one else in the family recognized, my grandmother, God rest her soul, was constantly talking about the routines and habits she had as a child.

If I were as fortunate as she was to live as long as she did, I can only image how things would be for me.

Anyway, I suppose that the popularity of “what’s this?” articles on the internet stems from this feeling of nostalgia. I’m referring to those images that individuals upload in an attempt to identify a familiar object and its previous function.

A new one is circulating right now, and it appears to be quite challenging to define exactly what it is and does.

I’ll be the first to acknowledge that when I first saw a picture of the tool below going viral online, I had no idea what it was.

Thankfully, though, some individuals did

 

 

It appears to be a typical, old tree branch at first glance; it is V-shaped and otherwise pretty inconspicuous.

However, its history as a practical tool for humanity dates back to the 1500s and a technique called “Water Dowsing.”

According to sources, the water dowser is also known as a “diviner,” “doodlebug,” “well witch,” or “water-finder.”

Its main function? You guessed it: to find water!

 

 

With the palms facing up, a person would grasp the stick’s two branches in each hand. At a 45-degree angle, the stem of the V—the bottom portion where the two rods meet—is then titled toward the Earth.

The user then moves back and forth, ostensibly searching for vibrations at the V’s base that would indicate the presence of water beneath the surface of the earth.

In the 1500s, dowsing with metal rods was apparently a way for finding metals in the ground. However, in rural regions, people started using the same technique to find water for newlyweds.

To learn more about water dousing, watch the video below!

 

Were you aware of the purpose of this instrument? Tell us in the comments section. In the meantime, if this post piqued your curiosity, read on for more:

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