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

Given how quickly times change and how quickly trends come and go, it’s no wonder that by the time we’re old, we feel as though we’re living in a world many of us don’t recognize.

I’m not just talking about huge changes either, but also the small ones that seem to take place over the course of decades. My grandmother, God rest her soul, was always talking about habits and routines she had when she was young, just as she was always showing us odd instruments and trinkets that no one else in the family recognized.

I can only imagine it’ll be the same for me if I should be so lucky to live as long as she did.

In any case, I guess it’s this sense of nostalgia that makes “what’s this?” articles so popular online. By that I mean those pictures people upload with a desire to know was an familiar object is and what its purpose once was…

There’s currently a new one doing the rounds, and one that seems to be particularly difficult to get right in terms of what it is and does.

I’ll be the first to admit that I had no idea what the below tool was when I first saw a photo circulating on the internet.

Fortunately, however, there were people who did…

At first glance it looks like a regular, old tree branch, V shaped but otherwise quite unremarkable.

Yet its story as a useful tool for mankind goes all the way back to the 1500s, and a practice known as “Water Dowsing”.

As per reports, the water dowser has several names, including a “diviner”, “doodlebug”, “well witch”, or “water-finder.”

Its primary job? Yep, you guess it: to locate water!

Senior man search divining with the rod

An individual would hold both branches of the stick in each hand, palms facing upwards. The stem of the V (the bottom bit where the two rods meet) is then titled toward the Earth at a 45-degree angle.

The user then walks back and forth, supposedly looking for vibrations at the bottom of the V to promise signs of water hidden beneath the Earth.

Apparently, dowsing with metal rods was a process used to find metals in the ground during the 1500s, though people began to then use the same method to find water for new homeowners living in rural areas.

Watch the video below for more on Water Dowsing!

Did you know what this instrument was for? Let us know in the comments box. Meanwhile, if you found this article interesting, check out the one below for more:

Related Posts

Stephen Colbert says he understands why Rosie O’Donnell and Ellen DeGeneres left the United States—and now he’s considering doing the same after being fired

Stephen Colbert Considers Leaving the U.S. After Firing: “Now I Understand Why Rosie and Ellen Left” In a candid and emotional interview this week, late-night television icon…

“What did you just say?” – Senator John Kennedy erupts over Stacey Abrams’ divisive remarks, then a shocking ‘hot mic’ moment rocks Congress

Senator John Kennedy Clashes with Stacey Abrams Over Controversial Comments; Hot Mic Incident Sends Shockwaves Through Congress. Tensions in Washington reached a boiling point this week during…

A US state will require teachers to pass a Trump “loyalty test” under a controversial new rule

Oklahoma to Require “Loyalty Test” for Out-of-State Teachers in Bid to Combat ‘Liberal Indoctrination’. In a move stirring both national controversy and local debate, the state of…

Dad shaves daughter’s head after she’s caught bullying cancer-stricken classmate

No matter how much we love our kids, the truth is they’re not perfect—and childhood is full of lessons. When children make mistakes, it’s often not the…

The Fall of the Untouchables: Inside a Political Reckoning

High-Profile Democrats Entangled in Wave of Fraud and Corruption Cases A series of new fraud and corruption cases has once again cast a shadow over several high-ranking…

Check hmmm .. Nice ..:)

Approaching women can feel intimidating for many men, but with the right mindset, it can become a positive and even enjoyable experience. Confidence, respect, and authenticity are…