Divination by boiling a donkey’s head on burning coals: It was quite gruesome ro read about cephalomancy, that some people of times past believed in, by interpreting the skull of a donkey or goat as it roasted on hot coals.

Divination used by some of the Lombards in which lighted carbon was poured on the baked head of a goat as the names of those who were accused of crimes were called out.

If crackling occurred as a name was called, it was assumed that the accused was guilty. The head of an ass was also used.