Dowsing

Dowsing is a type of divination used to locate ground water, buried metals or ores, gemstones, oil, gravesites, and many other objects and materials without the use of scientific apparatus. Dowsing is considered a pseudoscience, and there is no scientific evidence that it is any more effective than random chance.

History

Dowsing as a practice is very old, with accounts of it dating back thousands of years. However, the term "dowsing" itself is relatively new, first appearing in the late 15th century in reference to the practice of using a rod or stick to locate underground water.

Techniques

There are many methods and tools used in dowsing. The most common are the dowsing rod, the pendulum, and the bobber. The dowser typically holds the tool in their hands and walks over the area they are investigating. When the tool moves, this is interpreted as a sign that the target has been located.

Criticism

Dowsing has been criticized on several grounds. Many scientists and skeptics argue that it is a form of magic or superstition, and that it has no basis in reality. They point out that controlled tests of dowsing have failed to produce better than chance results.

See also

• Divination
• Pseudoscience
• Water witching

References

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