Mysterious Totem Doll Found on Florida Beach Sparks Debate

The totem doll found by Robertson. (WKMG / YouTube) — The totem doll found by Robertson. *(WKMG / YouTube)*

A mysterious totem doll found by beachgoer Bruce Robertson last Thursday has sparked debate over its origin.

The doll, found by Robertson at Cherie Down Park in Cape Canaveral, Florida, was made of coconuts and had multiple limbs adorned with feathers, as well as what appeared to be human teeth.

"It was a rather strange doll made out of coconuts," Robertson said. "What was really sort of terrifying or horrifying or interesting was it had actual human teeth."

The object also appeared to be partially covered in snakeskin, according to the photos taken by Robertson.

He said that he dropped the doll back in the ocean on the advice of his fellow beachgoers, who told him that it was a voodoo doll and should be destroyed.

Robertson initially thought the doll was "bad juju," but changed his mind after doing some research.

"It's not a voodoo doll," he said. “"It was the god of slaves that came from Ghana to the Caribbean and they used it for good luck and protection. We were quite relieved to find out it wasn't a voodoo doll.”

The doll is believed by Robertson to be a totem of the African spider god Anansi—a trickster god once especially venerated by victims of the Atlantic Slave Trade for his ability to overcome his oppressors using cunning and trickery.

But Michelle Davis, the owner of Essence of Knowledge Urban Book Store in Cocoa, Florida, had a different opinion.

"This right here is creepy," said Davis of the doll's human teeth.

Davis said that she thought the doll could have been part of a voodoo ritual, a practice she said is widespread.

"Yes, of course [people practice voodoo], they do it here in Cocoa," she said. "They do it all over in Florida, Louisiana, New Orleans. Voodoo is real."

Despite her opinion, Robertson is advising the next person to find the doll not to panic.

“If anybody else finds it, it is not a voodoo doll. It’s really a good luck doll from Africa,” he said.

Who actually made the doll and its age are ultimately unknown.

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